Your Memories

Isn't it funny how you can remember things so well that happened when you were 13, but you can't remember anything months ago. What is that about? 
I told Rick that perhaps I will remember 2 days ago when I'm 85.  Is that how this is going to play out?  Or is this senility?  I don't know, but I don't like it much.

I also think it's interesting that my sister and I were at the same place at the same time with a group of people. We were 13 and 10. She remembers it differently than everyone. She will swear on it. I just nod and say, Okay. Because that is her reality. The other 10 people have their reality that just happens to be different than hers. Is this like the white and gold dress vs. the black and blue dress?  You've seen that dress on social media and television right? 
(By the way, I saw white and gold as did my husband. Did you see white or blue?  I have heard the explanation but for the life of me I don't understand it. )

When Rick and I were discussing this memory phenom, I, at first thought that perhaps you remember the traumatic things so well. I remember the day my mother died so vividly and I can smell and see my surroundings at the time so well. That was 46 years ago. Yet I can't remember things in the most recent years. I remember the moment I walked into the house, I can see in my minds eye what the room looked like and all the people looking at me. I remember the feeling, the window, and everything leading up to it before I was even told she had died. But just a few years ago, not so much. Do you have this as well?

Rick can remember being bathed in the kitchen sink. He can remember shaking his crib and screaming for his mom's attention to come get him out of there. I don't remember a great deal before 3/4 years old. So I find that interesting. But don't get me started on him remembering anything I have said. He tells me my voice is white noise and that is why he doesn't always hear me.  Funny boy.

This same evening of conversation moved us on to discussing music and how a song can bring you back to the time of your life it was popular. A good memory or a bad. I love that music can do that. Everyone believes they grew up with the best music. Their decade is their favorite.
My home was immersed in music until my mom died. She played albums while she ironed or cleaned. I can remember coming home to music all the time. To this day, I still enjoy hearing Dean Martin because it brings back memories of the kitchen and the smells of food and my mom. Rick had the same kind of home. But his family listened to different music. 

I remember when his mom died and we spent a week going through the house and cleaning it out. She had a room that was dedicated to her shoes and purses. If only I had worn a 7.5  I would have had some killer pumps. She wore shoes of women half her age. 
He got to the stack of albums and Rick yelled across the room, "Hey want to look through some albums and see if you want anything?"  I knew from the way he said this that I wouldn't. I walked into the living room and he was sitting on the floor surrounded by albums. But instead of Dean Martin, Tony Bennett, and Frank Sinatra, his mom had Slim Pickens and Boxcar Willie and the like. No, I don't want any, thank you very much. But he kept asking me, "Are you sure you don't want any of these?"  Unbeknownst to me he saved that Slim Pickens and brought it home. He hid it in his car trunk. On my birthday, he wrapped it up all pretty and gave it to me. That made me laugh."Just what I wanted!"  No, it was never played because thankfully I no longer had a turntable, CD's were the rage at the time. Knowing Rick he would have slapped that on a turntable so fast and I would have had to listen to ole Slim. 

Thankfully he doesn't have his mother's taste in music.