Westside : Santa Monica Woman Celebrates Her 104th Birthday

Valentine’s Day chocolates and teddy bears can’t beat what Helen Lake celebrated Wednesday: her 104th birthday. A party is planned today with family and friends at Ocean House, a retirement community in Santa Monica, to honor the milestone.

A spirited woman, Lake tells stories with an amusing tell-it-like-it-is honesty. She is a news junkie who spends much of her days reading the Los Angeles Times--ever since 1923, Lake is quick to tell.

During an interview in her apartment, the results of this week’s Iowas caucus weighed heavily on Lake’s mind.

“I just read it today that Dole only made 26%--I’m for Dole,” she said with disappointment. Then, wrinkling her nose: “I can’t stand that [Patrick J.] Buchanan. . . . [Phil] Gramm may not be a very good-looking man, but he’s got good ideas.”

She credits her mental acuity, good health and long life to her diet, particularly the high-protein shake that she has been drinking twice a day, every day, for years. And she remains curious about the future. “I don’t know what to expect--I’ve never been 104 before,” she said. . . .