Louise-at-99“This is my lanai,” she said, imbuing the modest patio of her one-bedroom Carlsbad Barrio apartment with an air of romance. Age 86 in 2001 when I interviewed her for a City of Carlsbad publication, thrice-married Louise Getze Curley brimmed with an alluring ambiance. The daughter of the first doctor in town, who was paid as frequently in chickens and eggs as in dollars and cents, Louise had lived what she called a “rollicking life.”

As our friendship developed, I discovered she intended to continue rollicking merrily along. The first time we went to lunch, she peered out at my convertible, smiled widely in anticipation and said, “Oh, let’s put the top down. I’ll get my hat.”

Meals. Movies. Excursions. A memorable political rally at the Del Mar Fairgrounds where Louise and I sang along with Joan Baez, who had surprised the crowd. Louise has always been ready to grab her chapeau and go. In October 2014, to celebrate her 99th birthday, we put the top down and headed to lunch at an Italian restaurant where she ate heartily and imbibed two glasses of wine.

“I’m enthusiastic,” she told me back in 2001; quite an understatement. “I believe there are adventures every time you turn around. If you’re looking for them, you’ll find them. They’ll find you.”

In business and in life, you never know where the journey will take you. But if you’re like Louise (and I hope you are), you’ll enjoy the ride!