Issue 3
Reflect
JAS 2017
Mind
Grannies Rule
On August 9 2017, Singapore celebrated
its 52nd Birthday. One of the highlights
was Grandma Mary's Guitar Solo at the
National Day Parade – Singapore’s
grandest annual event. 81-year-old
Grandma Mary, as she is popularly
known, is an internet sensation, having
cut her own Latin Rock album. She
started playing the guitar at 60, fulfilling
a lifelong dream to learn the instrument.
Grandma Mary is one of the many
golden grannies who made news this
quarter. These women illustrate that age
is just a number, that old age is like
teenage – when you can dare to dream
and work to achieving those and that you
never retire from your passion.
82-year-old Masako Wakamiya, from
Japan was introduced as the oldest app
d e v e l o p e r at A p p l e ’s Wo r l d w i d e
Developers Conference. Wakamiya's
app, called Hinadan, is based on Doll
Festival which celebrates the well-being
of girls. The app is widely embraced by
elderly women, who enjoy playing it with
their daughters, nieces & grandchildren.
Punching the air and battling with large
wooden sticks, this great-great
grandmother from china is a martial arts
pro. Zhang Hexian, 94, has been
practicing her combat moves for nine
decades. She can joust with men half her
age, using a large stick-like weapon.
91-year old, Kimlan Jinakul, in Thailand
has earned a college degree after
spending more than 10 years studying
for it and has received her diploma from
the country’s king. “If we do not study, do
not read, do not know, then we won’t be
able to speak and make sense,” she says.
98-year-old V Nanammal of India, is
recognised as the oldest yoga instructor
in India, and the second oldest in the
world. Around 600 students that learned
yoga from her have become yoga
instructors themselves.
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