New York woman anticipates rare birthday eclipse

As everyone anticipates the total solar eclipse set to grace the skies of a large swath of the country on April 8, one woman from northern New York is gearing up for what she calls a “momentous occasion” in more ways than one.Dot Pelkey, originally from Altona and a retired Georgia-Pacific employee from Plattsburgh, has resided at the Watson Memorial Senior Housing in Mooers for the past 11 years. Despite her 101 years of age, Pelkey remains remarkably active, often seen taking daily walks and socializing with her fellow neighbors.”I get along with all of them. I can tell them off sometimes, but I get along with them. I love them all. And they’re all so good to me,” Pelkey shared.Coinciding with the much-anticipated solar eclipse is Pelkey’s 102nd birthday, an event she eagerly awaits. “I’m anxious, and I want to live to see it. I didn’t want to live to my birthday, I wanted to live to see this. And I guess I’ll make it. It’s not too far away,” Pelkey expressed with anticipation. Remarkably, this won’t be Pelkey’s first encounter with a solar eclipse. She recalls the solar eclipse back in 1932, though she notes that “this is going to be a complete one. The other one had a little bit. I wasn’t very old so. But I remember talking about it more than anything.”The staff and residents at Watson Memorial Senior Housing share Pelkey’s excitement, particularly noting the significance of the eclipse aligning with her milestone birthday.”It’s especially important for somebody who’s going to be turning 102 on that day. So it just seems very symbolic of the times,” remarked Lisa Delong, who works closely with Pelkey at the retirement home.As the countdown to April 8 continues, Pelkey eagerly awaits the rare celestial event, marking both a remarkable milestone in her life and a moment of wonder under the country’s skies.

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