April 17, 1965

It popped up again.

FlowerShopping.com Reminder

You requested to be reminded for the following event: Bert/ Marianne’s Anniversary Event Date: Friday, April 17, 2020 This reminder is setup to email you annually.

I forgot that I needed to unsubscribe, but do I want to? Do I want reminders of my parents’ anniversary every year? Will I forget without it?

I am reluctant to unsubscribe because I know how I can forget. Without all the pictures I took this past year, I would forget the memories. I don’t want someone to ask me, years from now, about my parents’ anniversary. So, for now, I will keep subscribing.

I want to remember my parents’ deep love for each other and commitment to each other. My brother and I often marvel at how they were always together. They never took separate trips, quite unlike either of our marriages. Work often means separate trips in both of our families. My mother always commented on Mitch’s travel and the challenges it placed on our family. I always dismissed it because it is a common part of our lives.

My mother was always thinking of my father’s decreasing mobility. Several years ago, they planned an Ireland trip, my mother’s dream destination. Unfortunately, they canceled it because my mom was concerned about my father’s walking capabilities. She was always quick to take his elbow when they walked anywhere. She ended up being the person who fell last summer, not my father.

As their anniversary draws closer, I feel some sadness, but I also am grateful for their example of love and dedication to each other.