Adam Prudhomme
Editor
One-hundred-and-four year-old Margaret Rivers is the living embodiment of the sentiment ‘you’re never too old to learn.’
Already an accomplished artist in everything from rug making to weaving to painting to woodworking and a whole host of others, earlier this year she invented a new medium-turning old stamps into art.
“I decided stamps are no good anymore so I’d cut them up and make some pictures,” said Rivers. “I made about 35 before Christmas and everyone wanted one so I sold a few.”
Showing off one of her stamp art creations, she points out she makes sure to slip in a photo of Queen Elizabeth II into her floral designs. She then goes on to jokingly lament her invitation to King Charles’ upcoming Coronation must have gotten lost in the mail.
On Friday she officially turned 104-likely making her the oldest resident in Napanee. To celebrate the occasion, just as was the case for her centennial birthday, the Beaver paid her a visit in an effort to distill some of the knowledge that only someone who has seen as much as she has can possess.
“I think just keeping on working and doing things,” Rivers said of her longevity. “I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t gotten any other trouble except my heart. They say it’s losing a beat every now and then, but I’m doing good. I’m looking forward to the summer now.”
Her mind still sharp, she continues to live in her own home, across the street from her son Michael. She’s mobile as well, keeping busy with her many art projects whenever her carpal tunnel allows.
“I have trouble opening pill bottles, tying my shoes, buttoning things,” said Rivers. “But then I guess I’m pretty lucky to be able to do the things I still do. I get up in the morning and bathe myself, dress myself, make my bed and make everything so upstairs, I come down and get my breakfast.”
Born just a year after WWI ended in 1919, she was in her 20s when she enlisted for WWII and served for three years in Kingston, putting her sewing skills to use while stitching together uniforms for Canadian soldiers.
To say she’s seen changes over her lifetime would be an understatement. In her youth households would have a single rotary phone, sharing a phone line with multiple households. Today the vast majority of people carry a handheld phone in their pocket. In her view, not every technological advancement was a good one.
“(Cellphones), even older people when you’re invited over to their house the first thing you hear is ‘just a minute, I’ll be right with you’ and then they’ll get up and walk away and leave you sitting there,” said Rivers, miming the action of staring at a phone screen. “There’s no communication, no friendliness. I don’t have one of those but I bought three for my family. Mind you there’s a lot of good stuff on it, I wish I knew how to work one. But I’m not going to get one. Not at my age.”
By in large she’s enjoyed good health even well into her golden years, in part due to taking extra precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“As far as COVID, I’ve been very lucky,” she said. “When (friends or family are) sick, they don’t come over here. It can get pretty lonely but I’m happy that they don’t come (when sick). Michael has said he prefer they rather stay away or they wear a mask if they have to come over. He’s been really looking after me. He’s a good boy.”
Now that the weather is starting to warm up, she’s looking forward to gardening and working on her rug making hobby from the comfort of her front porch.
“When you were a kid you’d say ‘oh you’d live to be 100’ and you’d laugh and joke about it cause you never heard of anybody living to be 100,” she said. “Holy cow, 104. I’m the oldest one of the family.”
In keeping with the four-year tradition she noted she looks forward to speaking with the Beaver again on the occasion of her 108th birthday.