Memory Lane in 2011

This is what I like about photographs. They're proof that once,
even if just for a heartbeat, everything was perfect.
Jodie Picoult 

by Skip Cohen
 
I've used that Jodi Picoult quote at least a dozen times, but I have yet to find one more appropriate when it comes to looking at photographs. Here's the short backstory:

Sheila and I moved to Florida in 2011. My Dad was 89, and although he had help, he was still alone most of the time, dealing with my mother's Alzheimer's. It was the one time in my life I could live anywhere there was a computer. Sheila supported the idea, and took an early retirement from Akron Children's Hospital. We got out of Ohio and moved to Sarasota, six miles away from my folks.

At least once a week, we'd take Mom out for ice cream, and she loved riding in the convertible. I had a Solara, which was perfect for her, Sheila, Dad, and a caregiver. The minute we got her into the car, she never stopped smiling.

The pandemic has changed everything in our lives, but NOT our ability to appreciate those moments that made us smile. And while everything wasn't "perfect" at the time, looking back, it's one of the moments that bring back the pure joy and blessing of having both my parents still around. I used to say; there aren't many guys my age with their parents still living, let alone parents I liked being with!

It's Throwback Thursday, and odds are you've got a little downtime - use it wisely and find a few old pictures that make you smile. It's a perfect break from the negativity that seems to surround us a little each day. And share those images on your blog - they're the ideal marketing tool to remind Mom it's time for a new family portrait. The pandemic hasn't slowed down the growth of the kids!