Community Corner
100 Years of Wit and Wisdom from McLean Neighbor Toni Balcaen
McLean Resident's American Immigrant Success Story
Toni Balcaen celebrated her 100th birthday two weeks ago surrounded by her family. It was quite a party for quite a lady.
Here is more of her life, her wit and her wisdom gathered through the years.
Name: Ersilia Maria Antonia Veronica Ghirlanda Monett Balcaen
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Birthday: September 17, 1911. Born in Sesta Godano, outside Genoa Italy.
Childhood: Immigrated to the United States at the age of 5.
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Her mother did not speak English so a neighbor enrolled her in school under the name "Elsie', a name which Mrs.Balcean never liked.
She moved to, Gilroy, CA with her family where her father grew produce and made 200 gallons of wine every year.
Graduating from Gilroy High School in 1929, she set her mind on going to business college in San Jose. Her father told her to stay home and get married. Her father changed his mind after she cried for about 30 seconds.
The Adult years: During a weekend trip with friends to their favorite beach/brunch/gin fizz stop, they ran into "a couple of smartass guys." One in particular was fun, and charming, and "had tickets to everything." He was a newspaper guy, and a writer named Negley Monett, a distant relative of Claude Monet.
They married and a son, Jon, was born. Monett was not interested in fatherhood and wandered in and out of their lives. One day she cordially invited to stay out. They remained friends through the years.
She became a U.S. citizen in 1937. Four years later she went to work as an Army Personnel Officer a job she would hold until her retirement in 1972.
Favorite Poems. She recites part of the Iliad, The Lady of the Lake and other favorites she has memorized by heart.
What has stayed the same over the years? “My faith. I still answer to the same God.”
How can we live such a long, healthy life? "Eat everything fresh and drink good wine. Anything mixed someplace else I don’t like.
Note: In honor of her birthday my husband ordered a martini the way she likes it. He claims to have lost several layers of his throat.
On staying sharp:“I always took night classes in things that interested me, antiques, poetry appreciation”
Regarding women’s rights:
“Everything has compensation. Everything. Even when people hurt you, you walk off saying Nahhhh, I don’t care”.
On love: “I’m not all that sold into great passion. I fall in and out easily, although there are a few things I keep with me. I’ve seen so much of it distorted. I think it’s overdone.”
On Marriage: “It’s a wonderful thing. It’s great not being alone. When you are alone you appreciate not being alone.”
On Friendship: “I’ve had so many beautiful friends. A good and interesting friend fills a need. It makes up for a lot of things if you let them in, but be careful. You have to see what they’re values are.”
On aging: “My mouth is the only part that doesn’t hurt. . . Every morning I wake up and take inventory on what still works”.
In talking with a friend from her Senior Living apartment about the priest hearing their confessions: “It’s got to be boring for him. What sins can we really commit?”
Final Words. “I took life as it came along and if it had a little adventure in it, I was for it. . . Find out what works, and go for it!”
