Like mahogany�� - aging gracefully

Veretta D. Garrison, 52, says she has "never had a boring day" in her life. After running her own retail business in upstate New York for 18 years, she moved to New York City in 1989 and launched Veretta Designs, a sportswear line. To stay positive, Garrison walks regularly, does sit-ups and maintains goals for herself. Call her an optimist: "I love life, and I'm proud of my three sons. I feel good inside."

Vivian P. Millinder, 65 attributes her enduring vitality and good looks to genes, but there's more to it than heredity. Millinder exercises by walking or two or three miles two or three times a week. When one of her sons ran the New York City Marathon in 1982, she adopted his diet of vegetables, seafood and chicken. A retired English teacher, Millinder says she makes it a point to "learn something new every day."

Louise Dent, 91, may live by herself senior-citizen housing in Roanoke, Virginia, but she's surrounded by the loving attention of her son, daughter-in-law and three nieces, who call and write constantly. Travels with family members to her favorite island of Nassau and in the United States help her stay youthful. Widowed after 40 years of marriage, Dent attends church every Sunday. In addition to her Bible, her reading includes newspapers and fashion magazines. She confides, "I love clothes!"

Yvonne Walker, 43, believes that when it comes to her fitness routine, variety is the spice of life: Monday it's aerobics, Tuesday tennis and Wednesday swimming, which she's just learned. She works out the rest of the week too, but Walker's best move was quitting a high-pressured, stressful job on Wall Street for one with short hours located in the suburbs. Some of the free time she has claimed for herself goes to roller skating with her husband of 12 years. "I have a zest for like, "Walker says, and she shows it every day.

Jean Taylor, 73, a performer of stage, television and film, has been seen lately in a one-woman off-Broadway show, where she sings the songs of some of our late, great ladies of cabaret. Taylor's no newcomer to show biz -- she directed and sang with the Sweethearts of Rhythm, a popular all-girls band in the late 1930's -- but says she draws the line at roles where she has to "act silly or cheap or roll my eyes." Taylor credits good genes and an avoidance of aggravation for her ongoing sense of well-being. "And I surround myself with young people, people who are doing positive things."

Geraldine L. Lee, 80, gets going at 5 A.M. and stays active throughout the day. "You have to keep everything greased," she believes." And have a good mental attitude." She eats little meat, skips alcohol and exercises regularly. A Howard University alumna and former teacher of English, math and languages, Lee recently switched to a new short Afro hairstayle, calls her dress style "hot" and says, "We need to rush out and embrace life."

COPYRIGHT 1992 Essence Communications, Inc.
COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group