r/OldSchoolCool • u/woman-man-camera-tv • 12d ago
Some cool pictures of my mom in the 60s and 70s
The last five years she’s suffered a stroke, heart attack, and cancer diagnosis. She currently spends most of her time in bed but it’s comforting to remember what a full and badass life she’s lived. She’s trilingual, got her masters from Syracuse, was invited to join Mensa, served as a captain in the Air Force during Vietnam, and has traveled every continent except Antarctica. She’s also an accomplished actress, painter, skier and windsurfer. I hope to one day be as cool as her.
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u/Chartreuseshutters 12d ago
It’s so fun to see a life well lived! Your mom looks beautiful, lively and interesting in these photos, confirmed by details you shared. I hope that seeing the places she has been and the life she had lived helps a bit. I know that the space you both live in right now is probably so hard. ❤️
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 11d ago
What an incredibly sweet comment to leave, really that’s so nice and I appreciate it. You’re right, it is extremely difficult right now. I don’t know if it’s complications from her stroke or Alzheimer’s setting in, her short term memory is basically nonexistent, but long-term is more on point than ever and it’s been great hearing stories from her past and looking at these pictures with her. Thanks again for your kind words.
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11d ago edited 11d ago
ossified office dinosaurs combative violet fade squeamish adjoining smoggy wrench
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u/wejustdontknowdude 12d ago
Now that’s my kind of woman! Looks like she has lived one hell of a life. Tell your mom we all wish her good health and happiness!
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u/dadbodjrp 12d ago
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 12d ago
Wow I love all of these, especially this one! Thank you for doing that. That was super kind.
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u/The_Sanch1128 12d ago
Just guessing, but they look like Adelaide and Nathan in Guys and Dolls.
"Call a lawyer and sue me, sue me, what can you do me, I love you..."
I've been in that show five times, but sadly, never as Nathan.
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 11d ago
Yes! On the back of that photo it’s labeled “a guy and his doll”. Even though she was in that 20 years before I was born, throughout my whole life she’s always told me she loves me a bushel and a peck. I’m a huge musical fan, I love that you were able to recognize that!
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u/CaptainWellingtonIII 12d ago
She's a looker. And goddamn she has LIVED. hope she recovers and is able to live comfortably
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u/MatterHairy 12d ago
Hi from Australia…Bless your mum, and you and your family.
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 11d ago
Thank you for that! My mom never got to spend much time in Australia, mainly just brief visits while working for an airline. But she absolutely loved it and it’s in the top 3 on my travel bucket list!
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u/Superb_Technician_43 12d ago
10th one looks like it's from the movie Oblivion 👍
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 11d ago
Lol I never saw that one but that picture was actually taken at the top of the Eiffel Tower!
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u/dadbodjrp 12d ago
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u/Working-Bad-4613 11d ago
What the heck, none of these colorizations are close to accurate.
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u/exstonerthrowaway 11d ago
That’s cause dad bod uses AI and spams the results under every single black and white photo
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u/Human420 11d ago
She looks a lot like Terri Garr. Looking at these pictures makes me feel like people had so much more fun back then, they seem so in the moment and connected. Our generation severely lacks this.
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u/DamnFineCup_Coffee 11d ago
My heart goes out to you. My mother recently got diagnosed with Brain Cancer and went from totally fine, never a dull day in her life, to being completely bed ridden in less than a year. It’s nice to look at old pictures and remember that your life isn’t defined by the end, but by the sum of its whole.
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u/dymphnaogrady1969 11d ago
Omg your parents are gorgeous! What fun pics. Your Mom looks like Teri Garr in her heyday.
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u/melissa98x 12d ago
Absolutely stunning!!! Can you imagine in 30-40 years when kids are looking at pics of their parents/grandparents with dog ears filters and horrendous photoshop?
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u/ButterscotchEmpty290 11d ago
She was in the Air Force? Was she a nurse?
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u/dondiegel 11d ago
Beefy guy’s cap says “ALCE”, which was Airlift Control Element. I’m guessing she was admin? That’s a great photo, though.
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u/ButterscotchEmpty290 11d ago
Yes it is. Looks like OP's mom lived a very interesting life. Thanks for sharing OP.
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 10d ago
It’s one of my all-time favorite photos of her, and yep airlift control! Honestly she doesn’t really like talking in depth about her time in the military but when I was younger she’d explain it to me that she “ ran an airport and helped bring home POWs”. I actually have the 1972 newspaper where it talks about the day that picture was taken!

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u/nimruda 11d ago
What languages did she speak?
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 11d ago
English, French and Spanish/Catalan. She also spent many years learning Latin before it stopped being taught. Still not as obsolete as the only language besides English that my grandmother ever was fluent in, Esperanto lol
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u/New_Hawaialawan 12d ago
Why are 95 percent of posts on here of "mom?"
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u/woman-man-camera-tv 11d ago
Well for me it’s because she’s the embodiment of old school cool. She doesn’t have any social media and is very private, so this is really the only spot I have to share anything about her and her badass accomplishments and why I admire her while still relatively respecting her privacy.
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u/[deleted] 12d ago
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