Through the years I’ve had the chance to interview many centenarians celebrating their milestone birthday.

Most of the interviews were in nursing homes, because by the time we hit 100 we’re ready for a bit of assistance.

Truth be told, with a few exceptions the “interviews” were mostly smiles on the part of the celebrants and their caregivers. While most of the birthday celebrants were able to express their pleasure and surprise in reaching 100, we certainly didn’t have long discussions on their philosophy of life.

All that changed this week when I happily interviewed my friend Ginger on her 100th birthday.

“She’s still our firecracker,” said Don, who hosted the celebration for Ginger.

Almost as soon as we pulled into the driveway, Ginger got up from her chair and beamed as she walked to our car in a sprightly manner. If her physical prowess took me by surprise, so did her mental acuity.

I was happy to see that the woman we called “the most elegant dancer in the county” was still ageless.

I want to tell you about her not only because she reached a birthday milestone. Most of all, I want to tell you about her unflappable approach to life because it has practical lessons for all of us.

Ginger doesn’t know if longevity runs in her family because she had very little of what we call a biological family.

She was only 5 years old when a trip to the beach with her mother turned into a life-changing event.

Her mother told those around her she was “giving up Ginger,” relinquishing all contact and turning the child over to Children’s Services.

A woman passing by happened to hear the mother’s plans. She spoke up with three words that changed Ginger’s early life.

“I’ll take her,” she said. Ginger’s mom turned her little girl over to a stranger without a backward glance.

Some might have been decimated by the thought that her own mother didn’t want her. I know a 64-year-old woman who still cries because her mother didn’t want her.

Sadly, it can set up lifelong feelings of inadequacy.

I’ve known Ginger for about 15 years and have had many deep conversations with her. Like many close friends, we share our feelings about many subjects. But in all those years she only had one thing to say about her unusual adoption.

“I’m lucky,” she said.

She had no recrimination about her early origins - just gratitude for how she was taken care of by the woman who adopted her.

My husband and I met Ginger at her most beloved place - on a dance floor.

At the time, David and I were just learning to dance together. When we wanted to learn one particular new dance, an impeccably groomed woman in a striking evening gown volunteered to teach us.

It was Ginger, and it was also the beginning of a beautiful friendship that deepened through the years.

Ginger is well-named because she has the grace and eloquence of Ginger Rogers, as well as her natural dancing ability.

She and her husband were out almost every night of the week dancing wherever the best bands were playing.

“I live to dance,” Ginger said.

But the music stopped when her husband died and macular degeneration took away her ability to drive. By then she was legally blind, although one never knew it to watch her on a dance floor.

Incredibly, she was 85 when she was adopted for the second time.

Dom and Cathy were two of the best entertainers around. When they learned Ginger could no longer drive to dances, they said they were going to adopt her, bringing her along wherever they played and inviting her to share dinners with their family.

“We call her our third mom because we were already looking after my mom and Cathy’s mom,” Dominic said.

At one of the dances Ginger met a guy who was enthralled with her dancing ability. I think he was pushing 90 and Ginger was 86. But he wasn’t a nice guy, and sometimes left Ginger stranded while he danced and romanced other women. At 90!

Ginger used to phone me for what she called “romantic advice.” It was like being teenagers all over again. When Casanova got sick and there was no one to take care of him, Ginger nursed him until he died, even though they were no longer a couple.

She went to dances alone and remained a favorite dance partner for many guys.

Only one thing stopped her from dancing - this nasty pandemic that is keeping many of us homebound. When I teased her at her party about finding a new dance partner, she beamed and said she was going to do that - as soon as it was safe.

One of the most remarkable things about Ginger is her outlook on life. She truly lives in the present, finding joy in every single day.

“The past is gone,” she said, “and no one knows how many days we’ll be granted. The important thing is to fully enjoy the day at hand.”

I am trying to do exactly that, trying not to get caught up in anxiety about what lies ahead.

Following Ginger’s advice, I’m concentrating on the present day with joy and gratitude.

Isn’t that a worthy goal for all of us?

Contact Pattie Mihalik at newsgirl@comcast.net.