Whether or not you've seen The Notebook movie starring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, based on the Nicholas Sparks novel by the same name, you've likely heard about the premise of the film, which is now a popular trope in romance novels: a husband reminding his wife, who has dementia, of who he is and that he loves her, every day for the rest of her life.
Seeing this trope in action in real life seems like it would be a few-and-far-between event, so it seems only fitting that TikToker @kepoxia_cdrama, who loves posting about romantic tropes and scenes from TV dramas, would experience it.
While out on a walk, the TikToker noticed a man pushing someone in a wheelchair while wearing a bright yellow t-shirt.
The t-shirt read:
"My beautiful wife has dementia. Please say 'hello' to her."
The TikToker was incredibly moved by the husband's gesture.
"The most lovely scene I’ve seen on that beautiful Saturday morning."
"Bless your soul for being such a lovely husband, sir!"
You can watch the video:
Fellow TikTokers were flooded with emotions over the husband's kind gesture.
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
@kepoxia_cdrama/TikTok
Seeing the post brought smiles to viewers' faces as it showed that a happy elderly couple—and the husband's excellent t-shirt game—were still going strong.
Earlier in 2024, husband Jim was approached by the Manly Observer in Sydney, Australia, to talk about the t-shirt that he wore in a variety of colors while out walking with his wife, Maureen.
After hearing many reports of seeing the couple on walks, going from Queenscliff to Shelly Beach multiple times per week, the publication had to hear Jim and Maureen's backstory. It did not disappoint.
Jim and Maureen had married young and had their first date at Queenscliff Beach, where Jim walks Maureen several times per week. They also frequently go to their favorite cafe, and they had their 55th anniversary earlier this year.
Back in 2020, Maureen was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. In 2021, she had to be admitted to the hospital due to the extent of her condition. It was at that time that Jim was told that Maureen would not survive the weekend.
Fortunately, the doctors were wrong, and Jim has done everything he can since then to remind his wife that he loves her, to show her the places they've been throughout their incredible life together, and to ensure that she does not feel forgotten in the community she grew up in, despite her diagnosis.
Jim confided:
"Every day when I come to the beach, we walk down to Queenscliff, and I remind her that this is where we first held hands. But she doesn’t understand.”
Not being a social media user, Jim originally agreed to the Manly Observer interview because he wanted to make this point:
“I’m no expert, but as I walk along Manly Beach, I’ve been doing it for four years, I noticed a lot of people with some sort of handicap or were walking with a carer that looked lonely."
"I’ll go up to them and say hello, to have a chat to them and I think more people should do that and just notice the people around them.”
You can watch the full interview here:
It's so heartwarming to know that there is love like this in the world and that Jim is so committed to his wife knowing about their life together.
But the way that he does not want her to feel forgotten is especially sweet, and hopefully people seeing his t-shirt and hearing about his story will remind them that people with these kinds of medical diagnoses are still people who want to connect just as much as anyone else.
@jaketapoer/Bluesky
@BillAckman/Twitter