At 95 years old, Sophie Salo has no plans to retire. Her interactions with friends, co-workers and mostly strangers at the Woodland Costco make her happy.
Salo has been working longer than most people, but when it comes to her favorite part of the job, she jokes she's just like the rest of us.
"Payday," Salo said with a smile.
She has several reasons for not making retirement plans and staying with her job.
"One reason is to be with people," Salo explained. "You get mentally slow if you stay home."
Salo has been living by herself since her husband passed away 10 years ago. She has three sons and six grandchildren. When she is not spending time with them, Salo goes on 2-mile walks with her dog.
Salo is well known and loved at her job. Her goal is to get you to try her samples and buy the product, and it works.
With a friendly smile and her mind still sharp, she convinces you to take it home.
"I see all my doctors here," Salo said. "(One of them) says, 'You know what? I know you. Where do I know you from? Oh you are the one who sold me the chocolate-covered cherries.'"
Her secret for being able to work this long and staying healthy is not spending too time sitting on her couch and eating in moderation.
"Watch what you're eating, pay attention to greasy food," Salo said. "But not butter, you can eat a lot of bread and butter."
Bread and butter were the few groceries Salo's family could afford when she was growing up in Hudson, New York during the Great Depression.
"I was born right after World War I," Salo said. "I don't like to think of that because it's so far back, you know?"
But her coworkers love that about her and think it's worthy of celebration. They threw a birthday party for her at the store in November.
Salo doesn't own a cell phone or a computer. She said she can't keep up with how much things have changed these days.
But when it comes to staying active and being the sweetest sample distributor, Salo is proof that age is but a number.
