As a U.S. President-obsessed kid in the early 1990s, someone always stuck out to me on the poster that hung on my wall and the many president books/flash cards/memorabilia in my room. Out of the 41 or 42 commander-in-chiefs pictured on these items, #39 seemed to pop out.

Of course, for those as nerdy as me, we don’t need the reminder about who that number designation is reserved for in American history. We are talking about James Earl Carter. Out of the numerous other past presidents on my prized materials, no one looked as happy, youthful and folically-blessed as Jimmy Carter. Out of so many stone-faced, scowling, bald, and old men, the guy with a mile-wide smile and full head of hair stood out to a 5-year-old like myself.

On Saturday night, I read a Jimmy Carter children’s book biography to Sloan and Beau. It summarized his whole life from his upbringing in segregated Georgia to his early political career to his presidency to his post-presidency humanitarianism.

I read “Hard Work But It’s Worth It: The Life of Jimmy Carter” to Sloan and Beau on Saturday night.

After we finished the book, Sloan asked the logical question I was expecting from my 7-year-old: Is Jimmy Carter still alive?

I told her yes but I didn’t know exactly how old he was. I whipped out my phone, typed in his name, and found out he is 99. But he didn’t turn 99 this summer or even this year. Former President Carter turned 99 on October 1, 2023. That means, God willing, he will become a centenarian in 22 days.

Jimmy Carter is now 99 and isn’t youthful but he still has that smile.

Needless to say, Carter isn’t the fresh looking face that graced the U.S. President poster that hung in my childhood room. But the smile is certainly still there!

Carter says he isn’t obsessed with holding on until he turns 100. Rather, he has a goal that extends beyond his milestone birthday. The man says he wants to live long enough so he can vote for Kamala Harris.

Although this isn’t a political post by any means, I admire that Carter still has drive and goals. Let’s pray for our 39th president. I will be more than happy to wish him a happy birthday on Oct. 1. Don’t Blink.