Meet Facebook's Oldest User

 At age 105, Edythe Kirchmaier is Facebook's oldest registered user.

Kirchmaier, who is also California's oldest licensed driver and the University of Chicago's oldest living former student, joined Facebook last month. Direct Relief, a medical aid charity where she's volunteered for 40 years, set up the account in honor of her 105th birthday.

"I've been contacted by such wonderful people and received such nice messages and pictures from people all over the world," Kirchmaier said. "I'm so humbled by all the interest in me."

Born into the age of telegraphs and rotary dial telephones, Kirchmaier said she embraces social media because it allows her to check in daily with friends and family. She said she's especially interested to see how many people log on to light a virtual candle in her honor, a symbol they've liked the fan page of Direct Relief.
"I'm hoping to get 105,000 likes for the page," she said.

The page currently has 77,000-plus likes.

Kirchmaier herself already has more than 20,000 Facebook friends. She lists the University of Chicago, the actress Jane Lynch and the Cheesecake Factory among her "likes." Pokes don't seem to be her thing.

While the centenarian said she cherishes her Facebook relationships, she still believes in the power of the pen. Every Tuesday she heads over to Direct Relief's offices in Santa Barbara, Calif., to hand-write thank-you letters to the charity's donors.

"She physically writes the letters herself, and I think her handwriting is better than mine," noted Hannah Rael, a media relations associate for the charity.



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