I saw my former lunch lady, Lou, pushing a cart down the aisles of the grocery store yesterday. Lou has become a legend in our small town because she is one hundred years old and still works in the cafeteria of our high school. Rumor has it they let her go a few years back but the student body boycotted cafeteria food until she was rehired. Lou walks to her job everyday, rain or shine, and refuses any offers of a ride from generous citizens. She loves working because if she wasn't piling our plates high with chicken fingers and french fries she'd be sitting at home doing nothing. Every year the high school staff purchases an enormous cake and all the students serenade her with "Happy Birthday" as tears well up in her twinkling, jaded eyes. I truly believe this tiny, wrinkly woman embodies what it means to be alive. Her drive to live and her century-old zest for life are, in my opinion, what keep her going. Never once will she complain about walking in inclement weather or having to work that day. She refuses to assume the role of decrepit senior citizen and perhaps most importantly, she is anything but lazy. I truly admire this woman. She has lived through historical events that most of us will only learn about through glamorized specials on the History Channel and while we wait in line for our iPhones she strives to give herself a sense of purpose by serving kids a fraction of her age greasy cheeseburgers. If there's anything I have learned from her, it's that fulfilling work and a positive outlook will far surpass facials and Botox. I'm sure walking everywhere doesn't hurt much either.