Los Banos resident reflects on 100 years as she celebrates her centennial birthday
Editor’s note: Los Banos resident Eileen Sorensen turned 100 in June. She wrote this recollection to share with readers of the Enterprise.
Though I grew up in Waupaca, Wisconsin, I did not remain there. Famous for Thursday night band concerts as well as summer vacations, Waupaca is where I I spent my summers harvesting potatoes. I left beautiful Waupaca at the onset of World War II, to learn life lessons that wartime taught me.
Wisconsin is a beautiful state, very green in the summer and white with snow usually five months each year. The folks there considered themselves happy and proud to call that state home.
As in most Wisconsin towns, people knew everyone who lived there. I’m so glad I was offered the opportunity in Wisconsin to study methods for teaching reading to primary children at Berlin Teacher’s College.
I married Elmore Sorenson (Al) just as World War II broke out. America was not ready for war. My husband was chosen for Officer Candidate School. He stayed an officer for the duration the war and ended up teaching those for whom English was a second language.
After the war, Al and I settled in Los Banos. We came here so Al could introduce a new concept, pipeline milking, by which dairy milk was piped directly from the cow to a refrigerated tank, therefore making milk cans obsolete.
We built our home and raised two wonderful boys, Mark and Miles. We enjoyed many happy years here. In 2007 Al died of Alzheimer’s and Mark died of bladder cancer, breaking my heart and the hearts of Miles and Cina, Miles’ wife. Al and Mark are buried at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery and could not share in celebrating my 100th year.
I was able to remain in my home for several more years, thanks to a wonderful caregiver, Sarah Vincent, and my grounds keeper Chris Cochran. As my health declined, Miles, Cina and I planned for me to come to New Bethany.
I feel safe and loved here and have regained my health. I met a woman named Isaura there. She lives in Los Banos and works as a caretaker at New Bethany. I am glad to call her my friend.
A namesake of mine, also named Eileen, has been a constant joy. On my 100th birthday, she sent me 100 roses. She inherited my father’s gift of musical skills, playing and recording songs she has written. She also plays the cello often.
I was asked to write this story of my life. Pages and pages regarding 100 years could be written about my life stories, if I could remember them. My life has been fun and wondrous.
Thanks to all of you who made it so.