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SEEKONK -- Edna King, who celebrated her 98th birthday on May 9, the day of the tea, said "eating" was one of the best things at her age and at that moment in time in particular, just before lunch was served.

"Two cats, two men, I killed them off," she joked. "I'm not getting any more."

At this age, she's a bit weary, she said, of questions such as "what's the key to living so long?"

"I don't know," King said.

Time with family and friends Mary Amaral, 80, who has been attending the tea for five years, said "just being with family and friends and times like this, when I get to see a lot of people that I haven't seen in awhile," is good about life at this time.

The downside: "When you hear some sad stories ... friends and family with illnesses. It's harder to take now."

39 and holding

Edith Krekorian, youthful-looking president of the friends group and hostess for the event who helped to start the tea 14 years ago, said laughing: "I'm 39 and holding ... It's none of your damn business."

Keeping busy key

Doris Davenport, who will be 85 in June and has attended the tea for about 10 years, said "keeping busy is the secret of not getting old. I keep busy."

When asked about whether there was anything that was not so great about this time in her life, tablemate Dorothy Frankland, 86, had something to say. "I don't have any bad things. If I don't feel good in the morning, I get up and get out of the house."

Marilyn Leddy, 83, agreed, adding: "We have a hard time realizing what age we are. We never expected to live this long."

"Not only that, but we don't feel it."

Being here a good thing Betty Anderson, 83 and Jane Barker, 84, who have been attending the tea on and off for about 9 years, were classmates at East Providence High School (there was no high school in Seekonk at the time).

"We're still here," Barker quipped when asked about the best thing about this time in their lives.

She noted that she did not attend the first year of the tea "because I didn't want anyone to know how old I was."

Anderson said "I try to keep active," but lamented: "I don't live near any of my children and grandchildren."

"It's nice to see so many ladies here," Barker said, nodding her head to acknowledge the dining room full of women. "At our age, we get around, have a brain that is still working..."

"And are still able to drive," Anderson added.

A homecoming

For Isabelle Antunes, who will be 88 on June 19 and has attended the event most every year since its inception in 1993, "it's like coming home," literally.

Her family used to live on the property where the inn now stands and was born in a house there in 1919.

At this point in her life, she likes having "lots of time - you don't have to have a schedule."

The worst: "The aches and pains, but people are nice to you and let you go ahead of them."

Antunes's younger sister, Laura Galimberti, 85, sat across the table from her and when she heard her sister initially cite her as three years younger than she was, said: "Thank you!"

She confirmed that she was indeed 85, "But I don't feel it!"