101-year-old Washington woman gets birthday surprise

ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS, Wash. (KING) – A woman in Washington state turned 101-years-old last week, and her family surprised her with a once in a lifetime experience.

The secret sat inside box number 365 at the UPS Store in Issaquah Highlands, Washington.

When Eileen Wilkinson opened that box, she found more than 100 birthday cards and letters sent from all over the country, and some even from as far away as Brazil and Germany.

At 101, Eileen still appreciates the lost art of letter writing and does not go for all that email and texting stuff.

“A letter is forever,” Eileen said. “You get that message, and you get how the person really feels. I think that’s why it’s important. I think it’s sad we get these emails, and they don’t have any emotion at all.”

Eileen’s grandson, Mike Matthews, made it all happen through a social media campaign. Workers with UPS saw the posts and decided to throw her a party, complete with a cake and big banners emblazoned with Eileen’s smiling face.

“It just makes me feel so good,” said Eileen. “How could this happen to me? I’m just an ordinary person!”