The lives of aging adults are often ones our culture chooses to ignore. Our culture decides what they believe aging is without listening to the stories of those living it on a daily basis. My art project showcases how I have seen this in the life of my grandpa, Lyle. A man with severe dementia that has equally slowly and rapidly changed who he is. I photographed him and my grandma to create memories for their 60th wedding anniversary, but the photos communicated so much more. I came to realize how from the perspective of those outside his life, they would see a life of repetition and monotony as his wife cared for him and tried to maintain what was left of his memory. That is shown by the black and white side of the images, symbolizing the bland life that culture thinks aging is, where freedoms are lost, fun is nowhere to be found, and that in memory loss, the light behind their eyes gradually dims. From the inside perspective watching my grandpa and grandma face their aging lives, I see a childlike love between them, full of joy, remembering the times when they were younger, and cherishing those memories as my grandpa’s brain has held on to from their early times together. Their world is full of color and hope despite their changing circumstances. This is represented by the colored side of the photos. I placed them together to show the dichotomy of how we can choose which side of the stories we choose to see. Memory loss is painful to watch, but I get to choose which side of my grandpa I remember when one day he leaves this earth. 

I chose the specific photos because I felt they communicated the love, commitment, and joy I see my grandparents emulate. From my giggling grandpa in their backyard, to them dancing across a bridge, and the rings that started their union, it perfectly encapsulates what they value most. I hope this art representation communicates the love of a caregiver to her husband and that despite all my grandpa continues to forget, his love for others and his wife never changes. Aging is an honor to experience and witness. I hope one day I can dance across a bridge with the one I love after 60 years of marriage like my grandparents.