Whatever you do just don't call her Ms. White.
"Betty," insists the warm-hearted voice on the other end of the phone line.
Oh, don't compliment Ms. Betty too much either.
She will easily turn the tables on you.
Me: It's an honor to speak with you.
Betty White: "Oh, thank you. But have I got you fooled!"
You just have to love the hardest working 90-year-old in show business. She stars in her own series "Hot in Cleveland" plus has a new NBC show called "Betty White's Off Their Rockers" returning Wednesday at 8 p.m. EST.
The hidden camera series has older folks pulling pranks on younger and unsuspecting victims.
The little poke at age pleases Betty. "I think the message is that younger people can either laugh with us or at us," she says.
"It also shows that older people want to have fun and laugh."
"What's fun about it is the fact that the older people get the jump on the younger ones for a change, but in a good natured way," Betty says.
Since Betty is clearly NOT off her rocker, I asked her for some of her favorite life advice.
Life Lesson #1: Be Open to Life Doing a 360 On You
Betty says, "Back in my day, girls couldn't be forest rangers, which is what I originally wanted to do. But then I wrote a graduation play in grammar school.
"Of course, as any red blooded American girl would do, I wrote myself into the lead. When I got on stage, I thought, 'Oh, this is fun.'
"I think that's what started it," she says.
"That's when the show business bug bit me."
Life Lesson #2: Don't Sit It Out
Betty says, "I get these marvelous letters thanking me and telling me how encouraging it is to see someone making the most of their time and still enjoying it instead of, 'Oh, I can't wait to stop working' or 'Oh, I can't wait to retire' or 'Oh, I hate my job.'
"You have to remain active. Get up each day, get ready to do something and accentuate the positive."
Life Lesson #3: Focus on Being Active
Betty says, "I'm blessed with good health. I just turned 90 in January and I inherited some wonderful, good genes from my mother and dad. So, being blessed with good health gives you the strength in life. It's a privilege that keeps you going.
"You have to walk, swim, do whatever you like, but stay active to enjoy your good health. Don't just sit."
Life Lesson #4: Continue to Do What You Love ...and Love What You Do
Betty says, "My mail reflects the fact that people get a kick out of the fact that I'm 90- years-old and I just don't go away. I happen to be blessed with loving what I do for a living. I love this business and I'm so fortunate to be able to still work in this business."
Life Lesson # 5 Don't Retire
Betty says, "I'm just happy as a lark. People say, 'Are you thinking about retiring. I don't have time to think about retiring!"
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