Cornelia

I always find it very special to portray women in their 80s and 90s and to be able to tell a part of their story.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was born on the 18th of November 1934 in Sint-Pancras, a small town in the north of the Netherlands. I used to have 3 children, but nowadays I have 2. My daughter passed 18 years ago. I also have 7 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren, who I love very much.

When I was young, I loved to play handball and scouting. Nowadays I like to walk, ride my bicycle, knit and do puzzles. When you get older, your hobbies tend to change.

Can you tell us about love?

I am crazy for love! And I have had a few in my days, I can still remember them all by name. Until, of course, I found the one and only…! Oh no, I am saying it wrongly, he hooked me up, in 1954. We met at “Café Spoorzicht” in Sint-Pancras. It was freezing outside, so we had to say goodbye very quickly! I still remember the date, it was the 9th of January, so in the middle of winter.

He came to visit me at home frequently in those days. And every time we said goodbye to each other at the door, my dad would “accidentally” walk into the hallway to grab his hat. Of course, he was spying on us.

How about your life and health?

I still feel healthy. I have problems with my memory, I forget a little now and then, but I enjoy my life. One thing I appreciate a lot these days is that I am free to go wherever I want. I also love the sun! It seems like the weather is getting warmer and warmer.

What would you say is the strangest thing about becoming an older woman?

Even though my health is good, I tend to forget more and more. The problem is that I hardly notice my forgetfulness. The people around me notice it all the time, which can make it difficult and awkward sometimes.

When the doctor told me I was showing signs of dementia, it didn’t bother me that much. I thought, “well, it comes with my age.”