Since this column is called “Just a Little Old,” I decided to pass along the lessons of a man who was more than a little old when he died at age 109.

When veteran Washington journalist David Von Drehle moved to Kansas, he spotted an old man washing a car in the driveway across the street. He was using an upside down golf club as a cane.

He introduced himself to his new neighbor and learned that the neighbor was 102 years old. That meeting launched a close friendship, which lasted until Charlie White died at age 109.

An excerpt from the introduction to “The Book of Charlie: Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year-Old Man” provides a taste of this fine book about an extraordinary man.

“Life seemed to rest more lightly on him than on other men. Though, as we shall see, he knew more than his share of sadness and hard work, Charlie didn’t resent life’s insults or protest its humiliations. Nor did he fail to enjoy its fleeting kindnesses and flashes of beauty, among which he now counted the rare chance to hand-wash a girlfriend’s car shortly after his 102nd birthday, beneath the broad canopy of an old tree that was dying faster than he was, as everything — the car, the tree, the soapy sponge, the startled neighbor shuffling toward his newspaper, the slumbering girlfriend, and Charlie himself — spun swiftly through space around the miracle planet called earth.”

The book recounts some of Charlie’s many setbacks (father died when he was a boy; married an alcoholic, mentally troubled woman; struggled through the Great Depression, etc.) and successes (talked his way into medical school after getting rejected, improvised techniques for open-heart surgery, mentored young medical students, etc.)

What really stood out in reading the book was Charlie’s can-do, never-say-die philosophy of life. When you’re knocked down, get up, brush yourself and keep on going. And go with a smile, a “What’s today going to bring?” mindset.

After Charlie White died, one of his sons discovered a piece of notepaper in his office that summarized his philosophy of life, broken down into pithy sayings. Here they are:

• Think freely.
• Practice patience.
• Smile often.
• Savor special moments.
• Feel deeply.
• Observe miracles.
• Make them happen.
• Be soft sometimes.
• Cry when you need to.
• Make some mistakes.
• Learn from them.
• Work hard.
• Spread joy.
• Take a chance.
• Enjoy wonder.

I couldn’t have said it better, but maybe I’ll do myself a favor and heed Charlie’s advice.

David Treadwell, a Brunswick writer, welcomes commentary and suggestions for future “Just a Little Old” columns at [email protected].

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