After 105 Years - What Matters Most (The Friday Ficks S6 E5)

In May of 1920, the world was changing fast.

A century later, it still is.

And in the middle of all that change lived Edith Pearce - known to those who loved her as Edie, or simply, “Moma” - quietly teaching us what actually lasts.

Moma was the grandmother of my sister-in-law, Andrea Drea Ficks. She grew up on Staten Island, graduated high school in 1937, and worked for an insurance company in Manhattan. During World War II, she quietly visited wounded soldiers, helping them write letters home.

No spotlight. No recognition. Just presence, care, and compassion.

When we gathered to celebrate Moma’s 104th birthday, the mayor of her town read a proclamation that perfectly captured her philosophy: “At 104, the most important thing we all have is relationships.”

The proclamation also shared a few of Moma’s timeless “Edie-isms:”

• Don’t take more than you need. Leave some for others;

• Keep your faith, even in trying times;

• Follow your dreams;

• Take a deep breath and count 5-4-3-2-1;

• Never get old. It’s no fun.

Just days before that celebration, Moma fell and spent the night in the hospital. When asked if she was still up for the party, her answer was simple: “The show must go on.”

And it did. Music. Balloons. Cake. And Moma - taking the microphone to remind us that every day we’re well enough to care, to love, and to be grateful is a gift.

Moma passed away this week at the age of 105.

The world will keep changing fast. What doesn’t have to change is what matters most: relationships, faith, dreams, compassion, and gratitude.

Let her wisdom guide you in 2026.

Own the day. Own the weekend.

Carl