A timeline for my mom and dad in their kitchen

chrisinhouston · 03-02-2009, 06:24 AM

Last year my mom died in May at age 86 and in December my dad died at age 92. They were married 62 years and lived in their home in Atlanta for 42 years. I took these pictures over the years as we sat at dinner or lunch. Now they serve as a timeline.

Image 1 was taken in 1972. My mom looks a little depressed as my dad's job had just had some major cutbacks. Dad is in his usual tennis player mode. He had a habit of practicing his forehand swing without even realizing it.
Image 2 was taken in 2004. Im going to look for some images to fill in the gap but this is all I found so far. At this point dad's eyesight was getting worse and my mother had Alzhimer's but could still get by ok.
Image 3 was talken in late 2007. My dad was totally blind and my mother was mostly in bed and only brought to the kitchen for breakfast in a wheelchair. She could still feed herself pretty well but that soon ended.

chrisinhouston · 03-02-2009, 06:27 AM

I forgot to upload the images!

Trilby · 03-02-2009, 06:44 AM

Those are incedible - wow. Poignant. Your mother's beauty is haunting.

capnhowdy · 03-02-2009, 06:50 AM

Makes me really proud both my parents are still hanging with me.

Also makes me a little misty this morning. Good job.

TheMercenary · 03-02-2009, 07:32 AM

Beautiful post.

classicman · 03-02-2009, 09:48 AM

Thats wonderful Chris.

monster · 03-02-2009, 10:08 AM

excellent. Did you keep those cowbells?

xoxoxoBruce · 03-02-2009, 10:13 AM

Thanks Chris, this is what I see.
btw, I love the house.

DanaC · 03-02-2009, 02:52 PM

Oh that's lovely.

Tulip · 03-02-2009, 03:02 PM

Thank you for sharing with us about your parents!

chrisinhouston · 03-03-2009, 04:36 PM

One thing I like about this is that my parents loved that kitchen with it's dark walnut stained panneling (also in the adjoining family room). When they moved in they got a refridgerator with the faux walnut panneled front from Sears and I just recently disposed of it after 43 years of service and only one compressor change out and 2 new ice makers. Not a bad investment! Last week my son and I spent 7 days doing a complete demo on the kitchen as old rather stained paneling is not in vogue. Here are 3 images from our work taken from the family room side. I think mom and dad would like the new look, we are doing cherry stained cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.

Clodfobble · 03-03-2009, 09:40 PM

Nice work, Chris! My dad's house is full of wood paneling too, and I have begged him to do just a tiny bit of remodeling before he tries to sell it in a few years, but he's convinced there will be no return on investment. He is so wrong...

03-02-2009, 06:24 AM	#1
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	A timeline for my mom and dad in their kitchen Last year my mom died in May at age 86 and in December my dad died at age 92. They were married 62 years and lived in their home in Atlanta for 42 years. I took these pictures over the years as we sat at dinner or lunch. Now they serve as a timeline. Image 1 was taken in 1972. My mom looks a little depressed as my dad's job had just had some major cutbacks. Dad is in his usual tennis player mode. He had a habit of practicing his forehand swing without even realizing it. Image 2 was taken in 2004. Im going to look for some images to fill in the gap but this is all I found so far. At this point dad's eyesight was getting worse and my mother had Alzhimer's but could still get by ok. Image 3 was talken in late 2007. My dad was totally blind and my mother was mostly in bed and only brought to the kitchen for breakfast in a wheelchair. She could still feed herself pretty well but that soon ended.

03-02-2009, 06:27 AM	#2
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	I forgot to upload the images! Attached Images

03-02-2009, 06:44 AM	#3
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	Those are incedible - wow. Poignant. Your mother's beauty is haunting. __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

03-02-2009, 06:50 AM	#4
capnhowdy Blatantly Homosapien Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 6,200	Makes me really proud both my parents are still hanging with me. Also makes me a little misty this morning. Good job. __________________ Please type slowly. I can't read very fast............... and no holy water, please.

03-02-2009, 07:32 AM	#5
TheMercenary “Hypocrisy: prejudice with a halo” Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Savannah, Georgia Posts: 21,393	Beautiful post. __________________ Anyone but the this most fuked up President in History in 2012!

03-02-2009, 09:48 AM	#6
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	Thats wonderful Chris. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

03-02-2009, 10:08 AM	#7
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	excellent. Did you keep those cowbells? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

03-02-2009, 10:13 AM	#8
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Thanks Chris, this is what I see. btw, I love the house. Attached Images __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

03-02-2009, 02:52 PM	#9
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Oh that's lovely.

03-02-2009, 03:02 PM	#10
Tulip Professor Join Date: May 2008 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,293	Thank you for sharing with us about your parents!

03-03-2009, 04:36 PM	#11
chrisinhouston Professor Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Houston TX Posts: 1,857	One thing I like about this is that my parents loved that kitchen with it's dark walnut stained panneling (also in the adjoining family room). When they moved in they got a refridgerator with the faux walnut panneled front from Sears and I just recently disposed of it after 43 years of service and only one compressor change out and 2 new ice makers. Not a bad investment! Last week my son and I spent 7 days doing a complete demo on the kitchen as old rather stained paneling is not in vogue. Here are 3 images from our work taken from the family room side. I think mom and dad would like the new look, we are doing cherry stained cabinets, granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances. Attached Images

03-03-2009, 09:40 PM	#12
Clodfobble UNDER CONDITIONAL MITIGATION Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 20,012	Nice work, Chris! My dad's house is full of wood paneling too, and I have begged him to do just a tiny bit of remodeling before he tries to sell it in a few years, but he's convinced there will be no return on investment. He is so wrong... __________________ My book My other book My spirit animal

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