Posted 20 June 2009 - 06:01 PM
Walter Breuning, now the second-oldest man in the world says eating little is the secret to longevity...
In another interview he says that "especially to keep the weight off" is the secret to living a long time
now at 112 years and 9 months he still walks around with his walker and is extremely sharp mentally keeping up with the events in the world.
Keep your body and mind active, don't eat too much, and be good to people.
That's the advice from 112-year-old Great Falls resident Walter Breuning, who became the second-oldest man in the world Friday morning with the passing of the man who had been the oldest, Tomoji Tanabe.
Tanabe died in his sleep at the age of 113 with relatives at his bedside, according to news reports.
Now the only living man older than Breuning is Henry Allingham of Great Britain. Allingham was born June 6, 1896. Breuning was born 3 1/2 months later, on Sept. 21.
Women far outnumber men when it comes to extreme age, according to the Gerontology Research Group. Allingham and Breuning are the 12th and 16th on the group's overall list of world's oldest people.
Mind and body
So what does Breuning think about moving up on the list?
"I don't think nothing about it," he said. "It doesn't mean a thing. Here today, gone tomorrow — that's the way it works."
The former railroad employee lives at Rainbow Retirement and Assisted Living Community. He can walk, he keeps up with current events and he has an informed opinion on just about every topic.
It's hard to say what a 112-year-old should look like, but Breuning seems to look good for his age. And feels good, too.
"Oh God, I couldn't feel any better," he said.
Fame and fortune
While Breuning isn't too impressed by his own age, it has brought him increased media attention in recent years. He often appears in local media, and was recently featured on the nationally televised Assignment America on CBS News.
"You'd be surprised by the letters I get — from all over the country," he said.
Breuning said he enjoys the attention.
"Well sure, everybody does," he said.
The fame has served him well.
After he was quoted in the Tribune at age 108 lamenting that he couldn't afford good cigars, boxes of them started coming in from across the country.
Another time, he mentioned that he'd like to have a mobility scooter to help him get around outside. A manufacturer sent him a free one.
A beautiful world
This time, he said there's nothing he particularly wants for himself. But he would like to see people give a little more to each other.
"It don't hurt people to give a little of their time," he said. "What else are we here for, if not to help people? That's what I think we're here for. To do good."
He has fond memories of his past decades — all twelve of them — but no complaints about modern life.
"It's a beautiful world," he said. "It really is. You've got everything in it you want