Billy Graham reaches 90 years

CHARLOTTE, N.C.  For half a century, he trotted the globe, Bible in hand, a dashing, wavy-haired figure of history preaching to 210 million people in 185 countries.

Now at 90 - his birthday was yesterday - Billy Graham spends his days in his mountaintop home in Montreat, relying on a walker to navigate the trek from bedroom to study. His voice is now soft, his hair snow-white. He's watched over around the clock by a nurse and a trusty golden retriever named Sam.

The world now comes to Graham, on CNN, Fox, a few newspapers and a trickle of guests.

Like so many others battling old age, the Charlotte-born Graham tires easily, naps often, is sometimes lonely and has great difficulty hearing. In conversation, his responses aren't as quick as they once were. Macular degeneration is slowly stealing his sight, denying him one of the chief pleasures of his life: reading the Bible.

A widower for more than a year now, he still grieves daily, even hourly, for Ruth, his wife of nearly 64 years and the woman whose picture brightens the rooms in the house she designed and decorated.

But for all the loss, those around Graham say his mind remains sharp, his memory strong. And like the young preacher whose calendar was ever-full, the elderly Graham still prefers to focus on the future: on that day he'll see Ruth again in heaven and finally get to gaze on the face of Jesus, whom he has served faithfully since his conversion at a Charlotte revival in 1934.

"I've discovered that just because we'll inevitably grow weaker physically as we get older, it doesn't mean we must grow weaker spiritually," Graham, still the evangelist, said in response to questions e-mailed by the Charlotte Observer. "Our eyes ought to be on eternity and heaven - on the things that really matter."

Around his house, Graham answers to "Daddy" whenever any of his five children visit and to "Daddy Bill" if any of his many grandchildren or great-grandchildren pop in.

He's "Billy Frank," his boyhood name, when sister Jean Ford drives in from Charlotte.

And to his nurse, secretary, physical therapist and others who help him through each day, he's "Mr. Graham."

He gets up between 6 and 7 a.m. and is in bed by 10 p.m., says son Franklin.
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It's cereal, banana and eggs for breakfast and something equally simple for lunch: a pimento cheese or peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

On those days when Graham goes to Asheville for doctor visits, he'll sometimes have lunch at TGI Friday's. He also likes the corn dogs at Sonic drive-in.

At 5:30 p.m. each day, the staff will ask him about dinner. Among his carry-out favorites: steak from Outback and shrimp from Red Lobster.
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Two or three days a week, a physical therapist comes in to work on balance and muscle retention.

The exercises are even more important since his fall in October while leaning over to pet Sam. Graham broke no bones, but he suffered painful bruises and was kept overnight at Mission Hospital in Asheville.

He keeps doggie treats near his bed and likes to throw them to his 100-pound friend.

Graham doesn't make much news anymore, but staying up on current events takes up much of his day.
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He still takes the Observer, his hometown paper, but with failing eyesight, he can make out only the headlines. When they intrigue him - such as stories about his bank, Wachovia - he asks someone to read the article. He also likes human interest stories, and any involving animals.

With the TV, he's a flipper - CNN, especially "Larry King Live," or Fox News.