Healthy Living

WESLACO — Juliana Alejandro sits in her "spot" inside her bedroom every day where she gets a perfect view of the front yard in her Weslaco home.

She is beyond the prime of her life, yet at 111 years old, Alejandro is still living in her golden years.

Not many can say they've lived in 19th, 20th and 21st century.

Alejandro sure can.

She listens to the birds fly by and the cars pass on the road in front of her home. Sitting peacefully, family members said Alejandro can stare at the outdoors for hours. At times, Alejandro will often start to sing, including her favorite Mexican tune "Divino Compañero Camino."

"She lives life pretty normal," said granddaughter Aurora Quintanilla.

Today, Alejandro's skin is very delicate and sensitive. She can no longer walk on her own. Quintanilla said as late as last year, Alejandro was able to walk on her own inside the house. Yet, Alejandro is living a healthy life, Quintanilla said.

"She has no diabetes, no broken bones," Quintanilla said. "She can see, she can hear, but you have to speak loud into her ear."

Family members say maintaining a healthy diet and being active have been keys to Alejandro's longevity. She eats her two meals a day including her favorite, chicken with vegetables, and cannot go a day without having her cups of coffee and milk.

"At times, she can eat by herself," Quintanilla said.

Born June 19, 1898, Alejandro celebrated her latest birthday with two events. First, Alejandro was honored by the City of Weslaco with proclamation. The next day she enjoyed a dinner party with family members at the Salon de Ebenezer in Weslaco.

According to the proclamation, Alejandro lived under the dictatorship of Mexican President Porfirio Diaz, but was then recruited by Pancho Villa's rebel army.

Alejandro was never one to sit and watch television. Rather, Alejandro loved to horseback ride, sing and crocheted for pillows, blankets and tables. Alejandro was able to hand wash clothes until she reached the age of 100.

  
"She has always been very active," said daughter Lupe Villarreal.

Born in Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Alejandro made Weslaco her permanent home in 1954, and her long life has led to tall family tree, as she has nine children, 52 grand children, 147 great grand children, 176 great-great grandchildren and nine great-great-great grandchildren.

As part of keeping Alejandro active, family members often engage her in conversation through a series of questions.

One of the most popular is, "Who is the most beautiful person in the room?" Alejandro immediately strikes her chest with her left-handed to say it's her. Of course, the most common question often asked is how is she feeling?

"Bien sentada," Alejandro said in Spanish, meaning, "Sitting comfortably."

When Hernandez handed her a white flower and asked what color it was, Alejandro replied "blanco" the Spanish meaning for "white."

Often times, Alejandro will bring up conversation about Pancho Villa and her days as a horseback rider. Other days talk will drift to memories of her parents and her children who have died.

"It's like flashes that comes to her mind, but it's her bringing up conversations not because we ask her," Quintanilla said.