MARYSVILLE, Wash. — To most in western Washington, Thursday was just another day. But for one special Marysville woman, Thursday was the day she turned 110 years old; Gladys Pennington is now just six years younger than the oldest living person in the world.
What's her secret for such a big birthday? Her family said, for her, it's the little things. For example:
• Little meals: "She has always been on portion control. You know, she'll eat half of things," said Janice Schroeder, her daughter.
• Little animals: "I have a little dog that she loves. She just loves patting him on the head. She says, 'He's so cute,'" said Schroeder.
• Little kids: "I remember when you were a small boy," said Pennington, admiring her 11-year-old great-grandson Hezekiah.
In 1914, Gladys was born in Deerpark, near Spokane, and was one of four children.
Not every one of Pennington's 110 years of life has been easy.
"They were raised in the orphanage for 15 years," said Schroeder.
The tough times, however, gave Pennington a healthy perspective on life.
"She's a very strong lady," said Schroeder. "She has a mind of her own.”
Nadice Latouche Anderson, a med tech at her assisted living home, said, "I was so surprised to see that she was walking. She can feed herself, too."
Pennington's several grandchildren and great-grandchildren attended a birthday party for her in the early evening Thursday.
"I have a great-grandma that’s 110 years old," Hezekiah told KING 5.
He said his friends in sixth grade are impressed.
"Usually it’s like... 'woah,'" he said of their reactions.
The middle-schooler has also put in the work to learn how incredibly rare it is to have a living relative who was born in 1914.
"She was alive during World War I, World War II," said Hezekiah. "The year she was born, bread cost five cents. Milk cost eight cents, a fresh gallon.”
"How do you know all this?" we asked.
"Google," he responded. His family members laughed.
Gladys enjoyed her birthday cake and fudgesicle, savoring each bite; because on a birthday this big, she's allowed to throw her portion control out the window.
"110? It doesn't matter what you eat, enjoy it!" said Schroeder.