Column Chronicles
 
Oldest living person looks to the future
 
 
Frank Cotolo
August 29, 2013
 
Recently, scientists in Bolivia bumped into a herder that claimed he was born in 1890. The scientists, on a trek through the Bolivian mountains to research climate change in mountainous areas never visited by Bedouins, met Carmel Flores Laura while he was walking with a long herder's stick but no herd. When asked why he had a herder's stick, Carmel said he was looking for his herd, which he had lost some weeks ago while guiding them across a steep path in the mountain.
 
When he met the scientists, Carmel was all smiles and he laughed.
 
"Why are you so happy to meet us?" said one of the scientists. "Aren't you sad that you lost your herd?"
 
Carmel said, "I am happy because you see me, so it does not matter about the flock. After all, it is better to be seen and not have a herd."
 
The scientists appreciated Carmel's sense of humor and stayed at the man's hut that night for a Bolivian dinner made by Carmel.
 
"Were you really born one hundred and twenty-three years ago?" said one of the scientists as Carmel broke two eggs into a pan.
 
"Yes," he said. "I was born in this village, not far from La Paz. I am the oldest living man alive."
 
Carmel has three children, 16 grandchildren and 39 grandchildren and his faculties are so sharp he can recite their names in alphabetic order or by age from youngest to oldest and vice versa.
 
"I knew Butch Cassidy, the real man, and I met the actor who played him before that actor made salad dressing," Carmel said.
 
His wife died 10 years ago and he still pines about it, except for the fact that he does not miss how she always insisted he clean the hut once a month.
 
When asked what he attributed to his long life, Carmel said, "I never ate that actor's salad dressing, for one. Also, I take long walks. Granted, I lost my herd on one of those walks but I definitely bought a few more months of life. Also, I eat a lot of cananhua."
 
Cannanhua is a wild species of quinoa and few people know about it or about quinoa.
 
"And," Carmel said, "I stayed away from the juntas. There have been fifty three presidents since I was born and even more juntas. Those juntas could kill a guy, especially if you were on the losing side."
 
Carmel refused to be studied further. He said he has a lot of years left and wants to begin studying to be a heart surgeon.
 
Frank Cotolo can be found hosting the talk and interview programme Cotolo Chronicles. You can send him an e-mail at this address: frank@148.ca.

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