Parents

Our wedding day, April 13, 2007. A lot of lines crossing…

This is the last picture that was taken of me and my parents. Even though they passed away much later – in 2020 and 2024. I kept seeing both.

It is the last one in which they appear together.

It was the first picture taken of them since their divorce, in 1985. Although they – sort of – remained on speaking terms, they did not really meet again. I think they only saw each other at my grandmother’s funeral in 1999.

You can see in this picture (well, I can) that they do not radiate happiness, or pride. In fact, apart from them seeing each other again in a long time, there were two other factors that played a role. For my mom, her religious beliefs made it hard for her to see the glory of my love for Toine. It took her a lot of self-convincing to let her love for me overrule her beliefs for the day.
For my dad, this was the first time he saw my brother again since the aforementioned funeral, and more importantly: he saw his three granddaughters for the very first – and last – time. They were all 16+ then.

You will understand this picture holds big emotional value for me.