“Just Do It!” Working out and getting fit, this is the first fitness quote that comes to my mind. I know it was a Nike slogan, but it was a damn good one for the simple fact of the matter that when asked for my favorite fitness quote this was exactly the first thought to pop into my mind.
When asked for favorite motivational quotes by the Slim by the Summer Ladies, I decided to look a bit deeper.
So, I dug a bit more and found a quote by my favorite funny lady (yes Ellen Degeneres). Here it is: “You have to stay in shape. My grandmother, she started walking five miles a day when she was 60. She’s 97 today and we don’t know where the hell she is.”
Ellen Degeneres–My Favorite Funny LadyQuite simply it left me smiling from ear to ear, because it reminded me of my great-grandfather (Pop-Pop-as the great-grandkids referred to him), who happened to live until the ripe old age of 103. I consider myself extremely lucky to have had him in my life for 13 years before he passed away. He turned 90 years old the year I was born.

My great-grandfather & great-grandmother years before I was even born. I don’t really remember him this way, but always loved this picture of them.
I even had some amazing memories growing up getting to know him. He was truly healthy and had all his senses pretty much until then, when old age eventually just got the better of him. I learned so much from him and thank god everyday for that.
But when asked at his hundredth birthday party, which was pretty huge and out at a fancy restaurant over 100 people including tons of family and friends, what contributed to him living so long, he had two responses. The first, he simply explained that when death came to find him, he couldn’t find him because he was never at home.

My great-grandfather (Pop-Pop) much later in his life and many years after the first picture was taken. Still smiling!!
Those, who knew my great-grandfather, knew he liked to walk everyday over a mile. So now we apparently knew why! The second was quite simple as well, he made sure to drink a glass of red wine with dinner every night.
Yet again, here was a man that was born in Northern Italy, immigrated and landed at Ellis Island in the early 1900s, so I think he was entitled to that one glass of wine. Hey, he was the father to six kids, grandfather to 13 and great-grandfather to more than 20. So maybe he was onto something (back them I was a kid, but now as a mother I look it this one with a bit different eyes!).
What does this have to do with me, twenty three years after his demise. Well, I still remember how healthy he was and still am in awe that at that age he would walk over a mile daily. If anyone could motivate others to stay fit and be healthy it was him. And that phrase he spoke back at his 100th birthday celebration resonates with me and makes me know I have so much more to live for and would love to make it to that point in my life as healthy as him.
Yes it is a long way off, but still if I get in shape and try to stay there maybe someday I can be as fortunate and blessed as him.
And yes at this point I am not walking to keep death at bay, but I am doing it to indeed be healthy and to be able to do so for as many years as possible.
So, as my great-grandfather would say as he raised his glass of wine, ” A Salute!”, which in English means “Cheers!!” And as Ellen would say, “Don’t Get Lost” and Nike, “Just Do It”.
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Robin Rue says
WOW – 103! That is amazing and it sounds like he was really grounded and down to earth. I love that he said death wouldn't find him because he was never home 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Robin and he really was just amazing. I always remember being in awe with how he per served for so long and just kept going. And he really was such a wonderful, down-to-earth man, too. And am with you still love his saying about death after all these years!! 🙂
Bethany King says
Fantastic story – good for him! People always find excuses NOT to stay healthy or fit, but forming those good habits now will really pay off in the future.
Here's my little link 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks so much Bethany and so very happy to have sopped by your blog, read, leave a comment and follow you, too!! 🙂
Vashti Q says
Wow! I love the story of your great grandpa. He reminds me of my dad who also walks a mile every evening after dinner. He inherited high blood pressure from his mom, and although he has always eaten healthy and kept fit, the HBP still affected his heart. He was told he had 3 months to live because of congested heart failure. That was 16 years ago and he still going strong living a great life and walking a mile every evening. Good luck with your goal to get fit!
Janine Huldie says
That is amazing and quite and awesome story about your dad. So happy to see and hear he is doing so well after all this time. And couldn't agree more about getting fit. Thank you so much, too!! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Lol, seriously needed this laugh this morning. Thanks as always Clark and hope you are having a great weekend so far!! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Rasma and was so happy to finally share this tale here. It was a long time coming and hope you too are having a wonderful weekend. Hugs right back at you!! 🙂
SarahA says
We have two sides of longevity in my family. My Dad's side of the family tends to live until they are very old. My Mom's side of the family tends to die young. I figure I probably have an average life expectancy by averaging that out! Unfortunately neither side of my family has stayed fit as they have reached advanced years. I'm hoping to be the exception to the rule!
Janine Huldie says
Oh I hope you are totally the exception the rule and my great-grandfather literally was the only person I knew to live that long and with very little complications. So if you judge others on both sides of my family, I may very well be screwed, too lol!! 🙂
Rose A says
What an awesome tribute. I love the pictures, and yep, he was entitled to his glass of wine each night. Maybe that's what helped him get to 103.
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Rose and I think you are totally right. He definitely earned his one glass of wine at that point!! 🙂
Joyce says
You are quite lucky to have quality time with your great grandfather. I never knew any of my grandparents and both my parents are now gone too.
If I won a casetagram, I'd add photos of my kids, human and furry. http://joycelansky.blogspot.com
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Joyce and I totally agree that I was truly so very lucky. And I wishing you good luck on the Casetagram contest, too!! 🙂
Bill says
You come from pretty hardy genes. That must make you feel good. Me….being adopted, the future is a crapshoot at best. 🙂
A glass of wine every day. Heck, I drank enough for twenty years that I should be in good shape, don't you think? LOL
Have a great day!
Janine Huldie says
Lol, I think so and seriously sometimes it isn't all cracked up knowing where you come from. I love my family a ton, but still growing up I would have said (joking of course) did I really come from these people!! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Stephanie @ Life, Un says
Love the story of your grandpa. We had a gentleman like him in our neighborhood, lived to be 106, and always active, healthy, and happy. He did the funniest things like feeding his hearing aid to the dog because he didn't want to wear it 🙂 Cheers to being healthy!
Janine Huldie says
Oh that is pretty funny and my great grandfather had a good sense of humor, too. But nothing like that I suppose! Definite cheers to being healthy and thank you!! 😉
Christy Birmingham says
So nice to hear more about your grandpa 🙂 I like Ellen's quote, made me laugh!! Have a great Sunday!!
Janine Huldie says
Thanks and you too Christy, have a wonderful Sunday and I loved Ellen's quote, too!! 🙂
Justin K says
I think the trick is to keep (or start) moving your body. And, maybe have a glass of wine with dinner! That second part shouldn't be too difficult!
Janine Huldie says
Oh so true Justin and my great-grandfather would have concurred!! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Melissa and I am biased, but do think he was truly so very wise!! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Oh thank you Amy and have to agree that he was definitely onto something!! 😉
Chris Carter says
Aw!!!! I just fell in love with your great grandfather!!! What a beautiful tribute and a wonderful message for us all to take in and consider… I personally go by the opposite of this one: "No pain no gain". Nope. "If pain…I stop" is more like it!
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Chris and so very glad you enjoyed. So true by the way and couldn't agree more 🙂
Lanaya @ Raising Rea says
What a beautiful post and memory of your great grandfather! That is just amazing. And Ellen … she's got it right! That's a great quote!
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(¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo http://www.raising-reagan.com
Janine Huldie says
Aww thanks so much Lanaya and I know I love that quote from Ellen and so had to use it!! 🙂 xoxo!!
gigigirl says
What a beautiful tribute to Pop. He would be so pleased and proud of you. Yes, we can all take a lesson from him…..and I wish I had his commitment to the daily walk. We have to be grateful for his good genes! Keep up your good program for fitness….I try to keep going with yoga. BTW I have the photo of Mom & Pop – it was their 25th wedding anniversary. We are lucky to have had them. Love, Aunt Gloria
Janine Huldie says
I hope he would have been proud of me and tried my best to capture him here in this post. That photo I believe is the one you made copies for all of us. I just scanned it, because I thought it truly was such a wonderful photo of both Nannie and Pop together. And you are right about that daily walk and hope to get more of that into my fitness routine as the weather is warming up now. And we were so very lucky to have them!! xoxo and love you too!! 🙂
Lisa Newlin says
his post made me tear up! Your Pop Pop sounds awesome and an inspiration to us all. What a sweet man that you were lucky to have in your life. 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Thanks so much Lisa and truly my pleasure to share about him here. Long time coming!! 🙂
Amy says
Really great! I love the stories about your family. It is true on the never being home for death to catch you. If you are never still enough for your body to start breaking down and disease to set in.
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Amy and you totally nailed my great-grandfather's thoughts here perfectly!! 🙂
Mod Mom Beyond Indie says
What a sweet post Janine! I loved the stories about your family.
Janine Huldie says
Thanks Linda and truly my pleasure to link this one up!! 🙂
lablover22 says
This was the perfet mix of sweet and inspirational;) Loved it!
Vicky http://www.thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks Vicky and happy to give a bit of this here on your Monday morning!! 🙂
Comedy Plus says
Your grandfather sounded like a very special man. Thanks for sharing him with all of us.
Have a terrific day filled with smiles. 🙂
Janine Huldie says
Oh thanks so much Comedy Plus and my pleasure truly to share him here with you all!! 🙂
Corey Pauley says
I loved this, thank-you for writing this and sharing on Smile with us on Monday’s. That’s where I hopped from! Glad to meet a new blogger and I will follow you back. I too am on adventure to get back to being healthy again in life. A Salute to you great grandfather and here’s my blog: http://www.coreycreativecorner.blogspot.com
Thanks- Corey
Janine Huldie says
Very happy to meet you back Corey, too. And am heading over to your blog in a moment, too. And thank you for the salute to my great-grandfather 🙂
Kat Biggie says
I literally snorted when I read Ellen’s comment! She is SO funny! It’s so true, gotta get moving, gotta stay healthy! I am going to get back into the Slim by the Summer link up hopefully next week!!! I’m ba-aaack!!! I literally had to take 2 days completely away from the computer,I was so exhausted and busy from last week!
Janine Huldie says
Yay for you being back and I totally missed you Alexa, but know it was so for a good cause. And glad to give a good laugh here with Ellen (she never disappoints–at least for me!!).
April says
Yes, Ellen is hilarious! My grandmother did the same thing. Before she died, I was in college, she was gone more than I was! I couldn’t nail her down!
Janine Huldie says
I know and my mom read this and told me she was loving the Ellen quote, too. She really is too funny and always good for a laugh. And love that your grandmother was the same way as my great-grandfather, too!! 🙂
JenKehl says
Perfect post as I sit here and contemplate how not to get cancer or have a heart attack. Cause I do that. Red wine and walking. I’ll take you up on that! But I might get lost. On purpose.
Janine Huldie says
Lol, don’t get too lost Jen, but do try to enjoy a bit!! 🙂 🙂
Camille Griffiths says
Gotta love Ellen!
Your grandfather reminds me of my grandma, she’s 93 but still goes to the gym!
Janine Huldie says
Good for your grandmother, Camille. Give her total props and credit. That is awesome that she still goes to the gym. And I so love Ellen 🙂 🙂
Kathy at kissing the says
I needed to read this! Thanks for sharing this story! 🙂
Janine Huldie says
My pleasure in sharing Kathy and thank you for your kind words!! 🙂