World's oldest person: 117 years not a long time

Misao Okawa celebrates birthday

Life is short.

That's the message from Misao Okawa, the world's oldest person, who turned 117 Thursday.

Okawa made the comment that she didn't think 117 years seemed like a long time yesterday as she celebrated at the Osaka, Japan, nursing home where she lives, according to an Associated Press report.

Okawa was photographed wearing a pink daisy pin in her hair and a pink kimono. According to the AP report, she has slowed down in recent months and has trouble hearing but still eats well and is in good health.

Okawa married her husband in 1919 and had three children. She now has four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1931, the AP story said.