- What is the most amazing thing that happened in your life?
- When airplanes were first invented,
I had an airplane ride from England to France.
- That's super cool.
(cheerful music)
- What is your name?
- My name's Crystal.
- My name is Alice.
I'm glad to meet you. - Nice to meet you Alice.
What are we here to talk about?
- Well I think it might be how old I am.
Do you know how old I am?
- No.
- I'm in my 101st year.
Did you ever know anybody else that old?
- No.
- I don't even know anybody else that old.
- Did you think you would live this long?
- No, nobody in my family ever lived this long.
My grandmother lived the longest
and she was only 83 years old.
- You broke the family live-long record.
- I have the record.
- How did you live so long?
- I keep very busy.
I write books and I exercise
and I eat good food.
I even play Scrabble.
Do you know how to play Scrabble?
No?
- No. - You should ask somebody
to play Scrabble.
It's lots of fun.
- Were you around when color wasn't created?
- Yes (chuckles).
I was alive when there were no television,
no telephones.
My grandparents didn't even have electricity.
- Wow, that must have been a long time ago.
- It was a long, long time ago.
- What would you do for fun?
- I had dolls and blocks,
but I really liked boys' things.
I liked marbles and tops
and I thought boys were much luckier than girls.
Girls had to wear skirts.
We couldn't wear pants at all.
- That's messed up.
- Yeah, it was very messed up.
- What else was hard because that you were a girl?
- Well, I wanted to get a job teaching
in a college and I found out there was an opening
for a job teaching biology,
so I called the head of the department
and you know what he said to me?
- What?
- We don't want a woman,
and I said well, could I come over
and talk for five minutes,
so he said well, all right,
and I went over and I was so good he said okay,
we'll hire you to be a teacher.
- The first part was not so nice.
- Right, and I taught at Santa Monica College
for 20 years.
Sometimes I had 90 kids in my class.
- 90?
- 90.
- If you had 11 more then it would be your age.
What is the most amazing thing that happened in your life?
- Probably when airplanes were first invented,
I had an airplane ride from England to France.
The pilot and my grandfather sat up front
and my grandmother and I sat in the back seat
and it was open.
The wind was blowing.
It was one of the first airplanes in the world.
- That's super cool.
- Isn't it?
My little brother was very jealous
and he said, oh, you were so lucky,
so I found out we could get an airplane ride
in Philadelphia.
We were supposed to go to the movies
and instead I took him to the field
where there was a little airplane.
We paid $1.50 a piece.
We got on the airplane.
- I bet he was very happy.
- Yes.
- I really like when it goes up,
when this weird feeling comes when you go up
and when you land.
I really like it.
Most people don't but I love it.
- Can you imagine being in an open airplane
with the wind on your hair?
- I like that.
Are you afraid of dying?
- No, I'm not afraid of dying.
I feel very healthy and happy.
My doctor said maybe you'll just die in your sleep,
so I'm not afraid 'cause I have a good life.
- Do you have any advice for me?
- Surely.
Study hard.
Aim for something good,
and enjoy life
and that will be your salvation.
You'll live to be smart and wonderful
and have a great life.
- Thank you.
- You're welcome.