On the Verge of a Century, And Still Looking Ahead

She has many favored restaurants of various types and ethnicities, including Mexican. "I have a very sophisticated palate now and like food that is well prepared and nicely presented on the plate," she said. At home, she watches "Masterpiece Theatre" and old movies.

After doing a few stretching exercises every morning to stay limber, Freiband starts her day by reading the newspaper -- without glasses -- over a breakfast that usually consists of cold cereal, a biscuit, a cup of coffee and some orange juice. Sometimes she'll have a bagel or cook an omelet. Later in the day, she occasionally treats herself to a glass of cream sherry or port.

"I love port," she explained. "Every once in a while, I say, 'Peggy, have some port.' "

"Eat what you love is my theory," Freiband said. "Just don't overdo it. Everything in moderation."

Her daughter, Susan, 65, is moving to the Washington area from Puerto Rico, so Freiband is helping her search for a nearby apartment. She'd like her to live close by, in case the younger woman "might need some help."

Asked if she isn't the person who might need help, Freiband replied: "I'm a giver. If I have something, I want to give it to you."

Freiband said she doesn't have many female friends locally because she was already in her 70s when she moved to Arlington, and everyone "my age already had their friends. It's not easy making girlfriends at that age."

But recently, she and neighbor Debi Deimling, 53, became friends by accident.

Deimling was at Home Depot when she saw Freiband, who was there with her son, looking at flowers for her garden.

"I have a passion for gardening," Deimling said, "so I wanted to help her." She soon was mulching Freiband's yard, planting flowers and generally sprucing up the garden.

"She made me a cheese sandwich and a salad, though, and brought me a bowl of fruit, too, to give me energy," Deimling said, calling the older woman "a mentor and a motivator for me."

The two have gone out to dinner in Shirlington and like to spend time talking or puttering in Freiband's garden.

"I have everything I want," Freiband said. "Every day when I open my eyes, I just say thank you."

Her senses of appreciation and enjoyment rarely falter.

"I'm ready for anything," the near-centenarian said. "I'm not afraid to die. But in the meantime, I'm living it up like crazy."