WASHINGTON — Breaking out into spontaneous dance isn’t usually done during a meeting with the president of the United States, but then when you’re 106 years old you can probably do whatever you want.
The White House on Sunday posted the video of 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin’s visit, during which she cut a rug so infectiously that she was joined by the much-younger first lady Michelle Obama — rather skillfully — and President Barack Obama — somewhat less so, it must be said.
McLaurin said she was at the White House to celebrate Black History Month, not bothering to mention that at 106 she’s a bit of black history herself.
“I thought I would never live to get in the White House,” she said. “And I tell you, I am so happy — a black president. Yay!”
This is one dance party 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin will never forget. #BlackHistoryMonthhttps://t.co/CAPi3heOMT
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 22, 2016
McLaurin, born in South Carolina, will turn 107 on March 12, has lived in Washington for 75 years, The New York Times reports, and says she can do her own cleaning and cooking.
In a recent video, she explained that she declined her son’s offer of help in the wake of the recent snowstorm: “I told him he could wait on me when I can’t wait on myself. But as it is now, I can take care of myself. And I hope I will be like that until I die.”
She added, “I pray every day of my life … to keep my memories, my mind.” And she seems to do a pretty good job of it.
She recalls events that happened before she was old enough to go to school, such as the painful consequences of calling her older sister – well, we can’t say it here – after the older sister jumped over a water trench that McLaurin couldn’t manage. Unsurprisingly, the defense “Uncle Dan [says] it” didn’t help.
By the way, according to the video, McLaurin’s sister is still alive: “She’s about 108.”
