LUDINGTON, Mich. (WZZM) – What is the secret to living a long and happy life? It seems like people have been asking that question forever. Whatever that secret is, a Ludington woman has figured it out, and refuses to allow age to define her.
Her name is Rose Forman, and if you ever get a chance to meet her, she won't hesitate to tell you her age, if you ask. In fact, hesitating about anything isn't in her repertoire.
From the moment she wakes up each day, to the moment when her head hits the pillow at night, Rose is constantly on the move. She has no time to worry about her age, because she has stuff to do and a life to live.
If you ever plan on hanging around Rose, bring a new pair of running shoes, because you'll need the fresh traction they bring. The soles of those new shoes will wear down fast trying to keep up with her.
The Merriam-Webster definition of the word "youth" is: The time when someone is young; the time when a young person has not yet become an adult. In many ways, Rose Forman has re-defined the word "youth." She rarely misses her morning workout. She spends an hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday running on a treadmill and lifting weights.
"The word 'tired' isn't in my vocabulary," said Forman, who is a life-long resident of Ludington.
Her nine grandchildren and eight great grandchildren also provide quite the workout. You'd think at her age she might be suffering from some arthritis.
"I don't have any pains," said Forman. "Not a single part of my body hurts."
Rose's best advice for defying the aging process is to, "just be active and stay out of the recliner." That's a pretty good tip from somebody who is 92! How does she really feel?
"Maybe we should turn the number around and backwards, 29," Forman said, jokingly.
Once her Monday workout is done, there's little time for Rose to rest. It's off to Park Lanes in Ludington for bowling league, where a big battle against Betty is about to begin.
"She's out to get me," said Forman, referring to her biggest bowling adversary, Betty, who happens to be 88 years young.
At 92 years old, Rose Forman has a 145 bowling average. She recently rolled the highest game of her life – a 202, so don't think for one second she's not serious about winning. As healthy as Rose appears, she has been knocked down in life. In 2009, she suffered a massive heart attack.
"I had two stints put in," Rose said.
Doctors remain stunned at her recovery. Two years later, she was diagnosed with cancer.
"And I overcame that," added Rose.
Like in bowling, Rose was able to push 'reset' and receive some new chances in life. Her healed heart is also getting a new chance.
"He asked me to go to breakfast with him, well, I jumped at the chance," Rose said of her now boyfriend, Ken, who happens to be two years her junior.
"He is an excellent dancer," Rose said.
The couple puts their fancy footwork on display every Thursday night at the VFW Hall in Custer.
"I don't think there's been a Thursday that we haven't left there, or when we were there, that somebody comes up to us and tells us what good dancers we are," Rose said.
Rose and Ken do the polka, the two-step and they waltz.
"We get there around 6 o'clock and we dance until 10 at night," said Rose.
Four hours of dancing! Rose and Ken combine for 182 years of life experience, showing that feeling young might be more important than being young.
"I feel very, very fortunate," added Rose.
When Rose Forman isn't dancing or bowling, you may catch a glimpse of her on the golf course. Even at 92, she's not one to shy away from hitting the links. During the summer months, she maintains her exercise regimen by walking between two and four miles each day.
Will there be wedding bells in the future for Rose and Ken? No news on that front quite yet. Rose Forman is definitely a "catch", if Ken has the energy to catch-up with her.
