My Parents Over the Years
@DeborahDiane (40322)
Laguna Woods, California
September 4, 2016 9:20pm CST
Yesterday, I posted a picture of my parents on their wedding day. Afterwards, my niece attached a photo that was taken of my parents this weekend. In some ways, it seems to me they have changed very little over the nearly seven decades since they got married ... except their hair has turned white!
My father will be turning 88 and my mother 85 soon. They still enjoy dancing and have fun together.
My mother has dementia and gets easily confused. For example, she recently asked me if I know where she lives ... and she is confused about the fact that she and my father now live with my sister. My mom thinks that my sister's home is her own home and that my sister and her husband are visitors ... and mom complains about all the work involved in having guests all the time!
However, she still recognizes people and enjoys the time she spends with my father, which is the most important thing.
My dad is still active and thinks clearly.
Aren't they a cute couple? 
37 people like this
36 responses
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Sep 16
@jaboUK - Yes, she seems very happy, despite her confusion.
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Sep 16
@jstory07 - I agree! I wish they would find a cure for dementia. I hope I never end my life being as confused as my mother.
4 people like this
@dodo19 (47336)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
6 Sep 16
@DeborahDiane I can't imagine it's easy for either of them. Unfortunately it's the way it is sometimes.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Sep 16
@dodo19 - Thank you! Yes, my parents look good. I know that her dementia can be frustrating at times for both of them.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Sep 16
@dodo19 - Yes, none of us have much control over how things turn out at the end of our lives. That is why it is so important to enjoy life as much as we can.
2 people like this
@LovingMyBabies (85288)
• Valdosta, Georgia
9 Sep 16
That is so amazing, they are adorable! I'm sorry to hear about your mom's dementia but glad she still knows who people are. =)
3 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
5 Sep 16
what a sweet and inspiring post and pictures. still dancing in their 80s? wow!
4 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Sep 16
@hereandthere - Yes, they still go dancing regularly. My sister and her husband own a restaurant/bar and my parents like to go there and dance!
4 people like this
@hereandthere (45645)
• Philippines
5 Sep 16
@DeborahDiane i love watching the "old" dances like waltzes.
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Sep 16
@hereandthere - This will surprise you, but my parents like to swing dance! They were great at the jitterbug when they were young. They can't do any of that sliding through the legs and flipping anymore, but they still swing dance!
3 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
5 Sep 16
@amnabas - Yes, my parents are still very attached to each other.
1 person likes this
That is good though that your mother despite having dementia can still recognize your father . @SIMPLYD (90721)
• Philippines
6 Sep 16
@DeborahDiane Just keep praying she will , for the rest of her life .
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Sep 16
@SIMPLYD - Yes, we are very happy that my mother still recognizes my father. I wonder if she will continue to remember him for the remainder of her life.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112999)
• El Paso, Texas
6 Sep 16
I kinda thought your mom was really young @DeborahDiane sweet 16 and married. I guess back then it was almost the norm wasn't it?
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Sep 16
@rebelann - Yes, my parents were married very young. They were married just a few days before my mother's 17th birthday and my dad's 20th birthday!
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@sishy7 - My Dad has always been a very happy guy ... and loves to tell a good joke!
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472121)
• Switzerland
6 Sep 16
@DeborahDiane I hope that this will never happen, even for the future.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
7 Sep 16
@LadyDuck - I think that all of us hope that this will never happen to us.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Sep 16
@LadyDuck - Yes, it will be very sad when, or if, she stops recognizing my Dad.
2 people like this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
5 Sep 16
Wow! That's 68 years! They look really good both then and now. It's so nice when marriages last that long and they still look happy, too!
1 person likes this
@IreneVincent (15962)
• United States
3 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane I hope they are well. They certainly seem happy.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
4 Oct 16
@IreneVincent - Thank you1 My father is doing well, but my mom has severe dementia.
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@IreneVincent - Yes, it is good when couples can be together for 68 years and still be happy!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
5 Sep 16
That picture of your Mom from 1948 looks almost identical to a picture of my Mom @DeborahDiane . Same hair-style, and features. And that pic of your Mom now looks like me except I don't have all white hair.
2 people like this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
6 Sep 16
@DeborahDiane Hey, you never know; we could be.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Sep 16
@nanette64 - That is so interesting that you see a family resemblance with you and your mother. Perhaps we are related! You never know.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@just4him - Yes, I look a lot like my mother and one of my daughters looks a lot like me. We keep passing on the same features!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
8 Oct 16
@just4him - Yes, we have no control over the genes we pass on! 
1 person likes this
@just4him (317315)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
7 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane That happens to the best of us. 
1 person likes this
@CaseyRoss9966 (4056)
• United States
8 Sep 16
I love seeing photos like these. It gives me hope for the future & hope for love & relationships. People nowadays don't have respect, loyalty, honesty, or even love in relationships anymore. Instead of fixing the problems they face they just turn their back on each other & walk away. Or they just ignore it & that just makes the problem worse. Plus everyone is more into "getting some" then they are in actually having a honest faithful relationship. My boyfriend & I have been together only 3 years, but I hope we are together for many more. We have had fights & problems in our relationship, but when it happens when sit down right then & fix/talk about the problem.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@CaseyRoss9966 - I agree that it is important that couples talk about their problems rather than ignore them! Good luck with your relationship!
2 people like this
@marguicha (223855)
• Chile
5 Sep 16
They are a lovely couple. And it seems that you are a close and loving family.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (223855)
• Chile
3 Oct 16
@DeborahDiane Ailments always take a toll on families
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
18 Oct 16
@marguicha - Yes, any kind of illness can put a lot of stress on the family members.
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@marguicha - Most of our family gets along very well ... although it has been stressful with my mother's dementia.
1 person likes this
@CaptAlbertWhisker (32748)
• Calgary, Alberta
14 Oct 16
I just realized your dad's hair during 1948 is a trend to teenagers again.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
15 Oct 16
You are right! My dad's hairstyle is back in style, again! LOL
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
3 Oct 16
@Tampa_girl7 - Thank you for the compliment for my parents.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
5 Sep 16
aw, they're jest adorable still! i bet that does coz yer momma some troubles, thinkin' yer sis 'tis jest there visitin' 'n won't go home, lol. i'm glad yer folks 're gettin' that care, they look so happy 'n obviously enjoy each others company.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
6 Sep 16
@DeborahDiane i'm glad that'cha can find the humor'n yer momma's condition, hon. i truly didn't believe that'cher sis 'xpected momma to do anythin' 'round the house :) hopefully she finds the humor 's well, 't can be a tad tryin' when we're takin' care 'f someone who's confused.
big hugs all 'round!
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
6 Sep 16
@crazyhorseladycx - Yes, it upsets my mother that my sister is there all the time. She complained to me over the phone that she "has no intention of cleaning up after" my sister and her family! LOL Of course, my sister keeps a very nice house and no one expects my mother to clean up after anyone! She is just tragically confused about things.
1 person likes this
@1creekgirl (41780)
• United States
8 Mar 17
They are adorable! What a lot to celebrate, being married all those years.
1 person likes this
@DeborahDiane (40322)
• Laguna Woods, California
9 Mar 17
@1creekgirl - It even amazes me that my parents are doing so well!
1 person likes this
