70th Anniversary of Becoming Parents

Last year I wrote a few posts about the 70th anniversary of some of the events in my parents’ lives.  I talked about them meeting each other’s parents, getting engaged, and getting married.  When I wrote those posts, I also planned to write the post I’m writing tonight that celebrates the anniversary of them becoming parents.  The reminder I had was the realization that my older sister Jodie would have turned 70 in two days.  She was born on October 14, 1953, in California at Edward’s Air Force Base.

That’s the day that my parents became parents.  Before that, they were just Bob and Betty Landry.  My dad was Robert Joseph Landry, Jr. and he was born on January 31, 1929, in Lake Charles, Louisiana.  My mom was Betty Lou Bucklin and she was born on May 20, 1933, in Hathaway, Louisiana.  They were married on November 1, 1952, in Lake Charles.

So when Bob and Betty welcomed little Jodie Lou into the world all those years ago, they were 24 years old and 20 years old, respectively.  It’s so weird that I’ve always thought about the age they were when they had their first child.  I’ve never paid as much attention to their ages when they were married.  I guess I’ve always placed more importance on the time that they became parents. 

I think it was a special day for my parents as well.  When I think about why I say this, it brings up sad memories.  Sad, but very sweet.  In 1989, when Jodie was dying, Mama and Daddy went to be with her at the end.  When all Jodie could do was lie there in bed, my dad would just gently run his fingers over her forehead to soothe her.  For my mom, it brought back memories from when they were first parents.  My dad would do the same thing to try to help Jodie fall asleep.  It was such a difficult thing to lose a child.  I’m glad my mom was able to share that with me.  She also told me that it was particularly hard because Jodie was the one that made her a mom.  

Well, I wasn’t expecting all of that.  I was planning on writing a sweet little story.  But sometimes really good memories are associated with really painful ones.  The photo of the three of them in 1954 is particularly sweet.  Such a happy new family.  I’m pretty sure that this photo was hand-tinted by my mom from a black and white print.  I have the photo on my shelf here in my house, but I’m thinking it really needs to go to one of Jodie’s sons.  

It’s the only photo I thought of using when I thought of writing about the 70th anniversary of my parents’ big day.  I hope you like it.