... is bacon.
http://bigcountryhomepage.com/fulltext?nxd_id=585102
Bacon. It's the secret of life, or one of many, according to Pearl Cantrell, and she would know, after just celebrating her 105th birthday.
"I love bacon, I eat it everyday", says Pearl, "I don't feel as old as I am, that's all I can say", she explains.
Still feisty and full of life, Pearl has been through a lot, and has plenty of reasons to complain or even give up. After mothering seven children, outliving three of them, losing a husband, and enduring decades of physical labor, she still has a smile on her face.
"I would go to the field and work till dinner, then come home to fix dinner, then I would go back out to the field and work again until supper", Pearl tells us.
But Pearl's daughter, Anno, says complaining is the last thing you'll ever hear her mother do.
"She's taught us to work hard and to get up every morning and think about living. She's never thought about dying", says Anno.
Instead, the centenarian spends her time staying active, enjoying her passions, like sewing and dancing.
"She might go dancing on Saturday night, but she'll be at church Sunday morning", Anno says.
"It was country dancing, waltzing, and two stepping", Pearl tells us.
With countless grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren, Pearl's life full of faith and family has inspired those around her, to live for the living, taking one day at a time.
Pearl celebrated her most recent birthday at the schoolhouse she grew up attending near Brownwood. She said it was a 3-day shindig that brought in over 200 people.
