These may not be the images that get the most likes on social media (unless you're a celebrity), but they are often the moments that, when we close our eyes and settle into the contentment and satisfaction of an event, that we return to. Not the bucket list items or the show-stopping exhibitions.
My mother remembered a lot of the words to our favorite Christmas carols. Surprisingly, my father chimed in with his baritone voice... "deep in heavenly peace."
As a caregiver, particularly to someone living with dementia, I suppress my emotions so as not to trigger inconsolable fear or sadness in my mother. See, for someone with Frontotemporal Dementia, it can be nearly impossible for them to recognize, compartmentalize, and regulate emotional responses. Learning of the death of a loved one could lead to attempts to take one's own life, but the death of a perfect stranger or familiar celebrity may have an equally significant impact.
"The changes in my appearance are not due to some personal failure... [but] are illustrative of my commitment to keeping myself and my faily safe amid a global pandemic. My fluffier waist and coiled hair are badges of honor, as I choose to honor my mother and father."
When I was about 10, I received my first relaxer. I was thrilled. This meant that my hair would finally swing freely like that of my White classmates, my dolls, and the popular images I saw on TV. I was so excited.
