Iantha Whittaker, 97
South Miami
retired teacher
Tickling the ivories: I taught French and piano at a private school in Washington, and I was church organist for 18 years at First Unitarian Universalist.
Staying afloat: Every day someone will give me a ride to Matheson Hammock park. I swim for half an hour, the whole time without touching the bottom. All the lifeguards know me by name. They say they don't want me to die on their watch. I never lie in the sun getting skin cancer and I wear a shirt to protect against the sun. At home, I do arm and leg exercises, nothing very exciting.
Ouch: I've been in a few accidents. I smashed my last car in one and I smashed my knee in another. I signaled, made a left turn and got hit by a guy who was speeding. Turned my car clear around and threw me forward. In the other accident, I was a passenger sitting in the front and my knee hit the dashboard. Now I use a walker all the time. My balance is poor.
Bring on the veggies: I eat poultry and fish. No red meat because I have high blood pressure. I eat lots of veggies. I have three different fruits and yogurt for breakfast. I make whole wheat bread myself. My father had polio as a child, and in the process we were brought up to eat the right things.
Advil spells relief: I take blood pressure pills and a couple Advil every morning to relieve knee pain. I also take vitamins my eye doctor recommended.
African gem: I read large-print books. I'm reading those Alexander McCall Smith books about Botswana. I had to look at an atlas to see where Botswana was. The people are so wholesome and cheerful. I recommend Smith's books to anybody.
Let's see: I can't see well enough to read music. I used to enjoy playing trios and piano quartets. I really miss it. I still sing in the choir at church, although I have to hold the music five inches from my face. I used to sing soprano; now I sing alto.
