◎鄭寺音

Over the years many a centenarian has delivered their secret for a long life. Not smoking, daily exercise, moderate drinking, being married （and sometimes not being married） have all had their champions.

過去這些年，許多百歲人瑞都發表過長壽的秘訣。不抽菸、每天運動、飲酒適度、結婚（某些例子保持未婚），都有擁護者。

But a woman celebrating her 105th birthday says that celibacy has been the key to her long life.

但一名慶祝105歲生日的女性表示，獨身一直是她長壽的秘訣。

Miss Clara Meadmore says she has always been too busy for relationships and thought of physical intimacy as a "hassle".

蜜德摩小姐表示，她一直都沒時間談戀愛，也覺得肢體親密是「麻煩」。

The former secretary said she had no regrets about remaining a virgin and had turned down several marriage proposals.

這位前秘書說，她不後悔保持處女之身，她也拒絕過很多人求婚。

Miss Meadmore said： "People have asked whether I am a homosexual and the answer is no. I have just never been interested in or fancied having sex.〞

蜜德摩小姐說：「人們問我，我是不是同性戀，我的答案是，不是。我只是對作愛不感興趣，也不喜歡。」

"I imagine there is a lot of hassle involved and I have always been busy doing other things. I’ve never had a boyfriend - I’ve never been bothered about relationships."

「我猜這其中有很多麻煩，而我一直忙於其他事情。我沒交過男朋友，我從來沒為戀愛關係煩過。」

She added： "When I was a girl you only had sex with your husband - and I never married.〞

她還說：「我當小姐的時候，你只能跟丈夫有性關係—而我從沒結過婚。」

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