Today my mother and father would have been married for, hmmm, how many years is it now? This picture was taken at their 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration, and the renewing of their vows…it is a touching picture to me…I sat and looked at it some years later on the dresser when I’d sit next to my Dad’s bed when he was bedridden after suffering several strokes over a period of 5 years. It will be 5 years ago in October since Dad passed away, time passes quickly so it still seems like yesterday. I haven’t called my Mom yet, but I’m sure that the day hasn’t gone by without notice, and perhaps some tears. So this day, June 4th, is a special day, full of memories that are bittersweet now. My parents went through a lot, and their marriage is an example of commitment. Living out the words said at many weddings, “for better or for worse”. I thank them for that. Here is a picture of them on their wedding day:
I’m curious about what has happened in the past in my family, in the lives of my ancestors, perhaps this is why I started years ago gathering information about our family tree. It has been a long time since I read the forms I asked family members fill out for me…this month they will be pulled out of storage. It will be bitter-sweet looking at some of those forms because at least 3 of the people in my family who completed them are no longer living. This makes the fact that information was gathered from them even more precious.
Lets face it, many of us may not want to know certain facts about our family’s past…but all of that information can help you know more about yourself, tendencies that may exist in your family, and if you are a person who believes in God’s power to heal (the God of the Bible), it can open the way to pray that God will help you through the things that you learn about yourself and your family.
Most of all, it can be great fun to learn who is part of your family history…like it was for me to learn that Charlotte Bronte is in my family tree…and others. There’s a tool for working on your family tree in the sidebar, and I am also interesting in looking at some of the new resources on the internet.
May is Personal History Month, learn something about your personal history.
No, this isn’t about any of my loved ones or family members…at least I don’t think it is, though the things I’ll share were commonly practiced a few generations ago and beyond. It’s about how people remembered those they loved…when they were dead…through photos and “death masks”.
I came upon all of this quite by accident when going through some old photographs. I didn’t know what I was looking at and did some research online, and through searches on eBay where I sell old paper items.
There is a death mask pictured here, this was a way of preserving a persons features after they had passed, a casting was taken in plaster or wax. Another way people remembered those that passed that is even more peculiar is through photographs…with the person dressed and standing with a stand, sometimes posing with a wife or husband, or a mother sitting and holding her deceased child…I know, it all sounds quite depressing, but I think I handled the subject much better here – Death Masks and Post-Mortem Photos – stop by for a visit if you have a moment.
I received an email the other day from a woman who was sharing about the recent passing of her father (the day after Christmas), and care-giving. I was able to relate as I remembered the passing of my Dad before the holidays four years ago. With his passing, and helping my Mom with the day to day things that he used to do (my sister more than any of us as she lives close by), the mind tends to realize that it won’t be long before we, too will be (hopefully) collecting social security, on Medicare, and thinking about things like medigap policies to help cover things Medicare doesn’t. You begin to educate yourself about things that you usually don’t want to take the time to think about.
Dad did the best he knew how to prepare for these things, and Mom, with a bit of help, has done a great job learning to do things she never had to do before as far as paying bills, handling medical papers, and so much more. I appreciate my parents, and am realizing that some old posts about my Dad and Mom have probably gotten “lost” in the blog over time, so let me give you some links to special posts about them done from as early as 2007 to the present:
From the time that fellow baby boomer Patrick Swayze was diagnosed with Pacreatic Cancer to the time of his death, I found myself searching the internet to find the latest info on his health. I watched the Barbara Walters interview some months ago, and got a few tears in my eyes watching him, and his devoted wife, share. I think the thing that impresses me more than the dancing, which was spectacular, or the movies, most of which I’ve seen, or the attractive physique, is the commitment he had to his wife. What an enduring love that started when both of them were young, she only 15, and he 19. In a sense they grew up together, my heart goes out so to his wife.
Many tributes have been offered, a recent Entertainment magazine that arrived in our mailbox has him on the cover, and article that may be worth reading for a change. ”Dancing with the Stars” did a tribute that I wasn’t aware of that was posted here for a while until it was taken down from youtube for some reason. I liked the video posted below better anyway.
But as I’ve already shared, to me there’s nothing more attractive than a man that is devoted to his wife…and I don’t mean attractive in the sense of being attracted to the man, but being attracted to the way he has lived a very important part of his life.
My hope is that Patrick made peace with God before passing, and my prayers are with his dear wife, and those who love him that have been left behind.
Last week we have quite a shock when my son had a sudden seizure out of the blue, has never had one before, and he’s 27. He lives home with us due to the economy and a job situation, and is uninsured, but had to be taken to the hospital to rule out any serious conditions, such as a brain tumor, etc. After 2 days of tests, they couldn’t find a major cause, so we are waiting to see what time will bring, hopefully it was just on isolated incidence. He doesn’t smoke, drink alcohol at all, or do any drugs, so all of those things have also been ruled out.
I have to admit that this happening to my son was a tougher blow to take than hearing about the sudden death of Michael Jackson because it was so much more personal, not to mention the death of Farrah Fawcett, I’ve been following her progress and had watched her special on television not that long ago.
Had it not been for the emergency and all the running I would have posted some fond memories about both…and plan to do so soon.
My son is doing well so far, by the way, and not having insurance may mean some help, a reduced price on the hospital bill, we’re still waiting to hear about that.
Today my mother and father would have been married for, hmmm, how many years is it now? This picture was taken at their 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration, and the renewing of their vows…it is a touching picture to me…I sat and looked at it some years later on the dresser when I’d sit next to my Dad’s bed when he was bedridden after suffering several strokes over a period of 5 years. It will be 5 years ago in October since Dad passed away, time passes quickly so it still seems like yesterday. I haven’t called my Mom yet, but I’m sure that the day hasn’t gone by without notice, and perhaps some tears. So this day, June 4th, is a special day, full of memories that are bittersweet now. My parents went through a lot, and their marriage is an example of commitment. Living out the words said at many weddings, “for better or for worse”. I thank them for that. Here is a picture of them on their wedding day:
No, this isn’t about any of my loved ones or family members…at least I don’t think it is, though the things I’ll share were commonly practiced a few generations ago and beyond. It’s about how people remembered those they loved…when they were dead…through photos and “death masks”.