My dentist up at the VA Hospital had me in his chair the other day and started talking about my options on long term care of my teeth. He mentioned the fact that I was nearly 85 and then spent a few moments giving me a long searching look. “Well, you look like you might live a little longer, so we’ll go ahead and try to fix this other tooth.” I was torn by various emotions as I said, “Well, my mom lived to be 97 and I had one relative to live to be 122 years old.” The dentist gave me his best “Liar-Liar Pants on Fire” look before turning around and looking for another one of those torturous tools that dentist use with such glee on their victims. Actually, my mom did make it to 97 and would have lived longer if she had taken care of herself.

Mom worked into her 90s. Her last work was as recreational director down at Woodland Hills Care Center in Allen. Somewhere about then she decided to retire. Sort of. Now, back to my 122-year-old cousin Isaac. Isaac Brock was born in 1787 in Buncombe County, North Carolina. Isaac lived a welldocumented life, having spent much time trying to prove that he was as old as he claimed. He served in the Revolutionary Army. Isaac also claimed that he fought in the war of 1812. At the age of 74, he managed to get in the Confederate Army as a blacksmith shoeing horses. He got in by filling another man’s service who had been drafted— for a fee. Before then he had served in the Texas War for Independence and served briefly as a Texas Ranger.

Later Isaac became involved in advertising and selling a patent medication called Peruna. He used his old age to prove that this elixir was good for preserving his vitality and long life. Cousin Isaac made it to East Texas after his war service and eventually on to Waco. When Isaac turned 100, he called a press conference (naturally) there in Waco and after he had gathered up enough reporters, shoed a kicking mule. Isaac used such of these “famous moments” to sell some more of his patent medicine (Peruna).

But the clock continued to tick on Isaac as he continued his life around Waco and Isaac gradually faded away. Well not completely. Before Isaac finally did die, he was hauled before a Judge there in Waco and declared incompetent. Isaac died in a “Rest Home” soon after in Waco on September 3, 1909. His special elixir of Peruna couldn’t save him, and he was buried in the China Spring Cemetery. He has a big headstone there with a complimentary inscription stating that “He lived his life as a good Christian Man” and makes note of his service to his country. Another large monument erected on his grave site by the government pays tribute to all his various deeds of service to his country.

I would like to go down there to China Spring Cemetery and have a look around. It’s something I’m pretty good at and if I get it done, I’ll get a report back to you in this column. Meanwhile, be sure and go to church Sunday.

And you might want to put on your calendar the Spaghetti Dinner at the School on March 1 ^st to help Cassi Elliott. She was recently diagnosed with Stage 4 Lung Cancer and needs help on her medical bills. Cassi is a longtime resident who works for my son-in-law, Dr. Tim Costner, down at the Vet Clinic. A live auction is also planned that day. Let’s all get out and help our good friend Cassi out.

Oh yes, if any of you still have a bottle of this Elixir of Peruna, I would like to have it. Maybe I too could then live to be 122 if it isn’t too far out of date.