There is something magical about the number 99.</p><p>Highway 99, for example, is one of the oldest and most important highways in California. Mention Highway 99 to anyone who's lived in California and you will bring back memories of places and people all along the state's spine.</p><p>The California Council for the Humanities used the number 99 within the title of its 1996 book to honor past and present writers in the state: "Highway 99: A Literary Journey through California's Great Central Valley."</p><p>Mathematicians like the number 99 for many reasons. For example, 99 is the sum of the cube of 2 plus the cube of 3 plus the cube of 4.</p><p>Merchants like 99 because $4.99 sounds cheaper than five dollars. And there's a whole chain of 99-cent stores that attract thousands of customers.</p><p>Athletes like 99 because it looks so good on a uniform. Almost every football team has some guy wearing that number. And Wayne Gretsky, perhaps the best hockey player ever, and the person who lit the Olympic cauldron in Vancouver this year, wore 99.</p><p>And just about anyone who has been on a long school bus ride as a kid has sung "99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall."</p><p>This year there is a special magic about 99. This month, in three days, Tomar Mason turns 99.</p><p>Long-time perceptive readers of this column know that this isn't the first time I've written about Tomar. She has been the subject of several of my columns over the years.</p><p>But I can't help myself. Tomar is such an incredible person that I can't help writing about her.</p><p>She is, first of all, a woman of grace and dignity. She treats everyone she meets with respect and kindness. Within her is a love of life and a spirit of joy.</p><p>She is also such a positive person. In the last few years her eyesight and hearing have diminished and the pains in the body, especially in the area of her shoulders and neck, have increased. But talking with her you wouldn't know it. Her mind focuses on the good things in her life, including her children and grandchildren and the beauty of nature and art.</p><p>In the last few years she has also done a good job of "corralling" her husband Bill. He, too, is a nonagerian, but he'll turn a mere 93 later this month, a young whippersnapper by comparison to Mrs. Mason.</p><p>Even in his 90s Bill can be a little rambunctious at times and a little earthy in his language. But Tomar has made a gentleman out of him.</p><p>Visiting Tomar and Bill is a treat, partly because they are such a contrast in styles. Tomar is ever nuanced and deferential, while Bill is always blunt and opinionated. But they are both extremely hospitable and make guests feel welcome and appreciated.</p><p>Together they have great stories about their 190+ years of life--Tomar about her early days in Reedley and her time in the military during World War II. Bill can talk about growing up in Montana and working as a lumberjack.</p><p>At 99 Tomar has a mind still sharp as a shiny blade. Her memory is a storehouse of experiences and ideas, including stories about her days when she was in her 60's and 70's--the time in her life she went to college, earning an A.A. at Merced College and then traveling almost every day for nine years (there's that number 9 again) from Los Ba&#241;os to Turlock to earn two bachelor's degrees and a master of arts.</p><p>With the help of her good friend Wendy Popish, Tomar continues to create her life stories. Tomar recreates in her mind experiences from her past and narrates them aloud for Wendy to transcribe on her computer.</p><p>Over the past year, Tomar has written, with Wendy's help, dozens of stories which reveal much about her life and the times and the people that have been part of her life.</p><p>Tomar and Wendy have also encouraged Bill to write his stories, which are many and varied. They have dusted off Bill's treasured manual typewriter and installed a new ribbon. So far, however, Bill has gotten only to "asdf-jkl;" in his typing and his stories remain only in oral form.</p><p>I'm sure I speak for everyone who knows Tomar in wishing her a happy 99th birthday. And that includes a lot of people, from family members and friends to fellow parishioners at St. Alban's to fellow students and former teachers.</p><p>As Wendy has said, Tomar knows just two kinds of people: her friends and persons who are about to become her friends. That's just the way Tomar is. Folks like being around her, because of her joy, her positive spirit, her sharp mind, her strong faith, and her love of beauty.</p><p>Happy 99th, Tomar. And it won't be long before I'll be writing a column next year celebrating the number 100.</p><p>On another note: Today is Arbor Day, and everyone in Los Ba&#241;os has two chances to celebrate. From 7 to 10 a.m. the Milliken Museum Society will hold its annual Arbor Day Breakfast at the Miller and Lux Building on Sixth Street.</p><p>At 4 p.m. the annual Arbor Day Celebration will take place at the new Southwood Park. The simplest way to find this little park is to drive down Ortigalita Road, and as you approach Cardoza Road, look for signs and balloons. This year's event will be particularly noteworthy because the City of Los Ba&#241;os will be honoring Bob Edminster for his many years of work and service to this community on behalf of trees.</p><p>Comments on the writings of John Spevak, a regular Enterprise columnist, are encouraged and can be sent via email to spevak@telis.org.