I may be mired in a touch of nostalgia meeting the digital age. About two years ago, we moved and I packed up yet another phase of life into boxes that have only emerged this past week: more specifically, today.
If you're like me, unpacking isn't so much an exercise in efficiency, but rather a stroll down memory lane. I moved frequently during my teen years and can name three seperate high schools as my temporary alma mater.
I found my yearbooks and started leafing through them. I recovered memories, and yes, they lit the corners of my mind. My memories of people I once knew or hoped to know or wanted to know or maybe never really knew. Nonetheless, their paths and mine crossed.
I did an experiment. I wanted to find out how mutual those memories were. It's interesting. I found an old neighbor who was thrilled to see my name in her mailbox and I also found a skeptical sort. Both sides of the spectrum, yet both signed the same yearbook page. My old neighbor has moved several times herself and we had touched base in the interim. She went to great lengths pre internet days to track me down. I remember quite well, she called a cousin with the same last name who said, well I've got her grandmother's number, and she called my grandmother who passed the message along to me. Today, it's much easier. We log onto a social network and say "hey, I knew you, remember me?" We take a lot for granted.The skeptic assumed that the memory I had could be found anywhere. I respect that as well. I won't campaign for memories.
Today, it's also more suspect. We ask people to trust us with a click. That's asking a lot. So the girl who tracked me down had a greater investment. The boy who said, "I don't think I remember you" did not. I respect both answers. In a simple click I reminded one person of a long lost friendship and another of one to rekindle.
But trust notwithstanding, our memories remain true.
I remember you, and I don't think I signed your yearbook either!
ReplyDeleteEarly this year I joined facebook, and have now reconnected with many High School friends that I hadn't heard from since graduation. They're not my closest friends now, but it's still nice to see where everyone is today and to reconnect. Maybe even a little bit "grounding" to help remember where I came from and who I was back then.
ReplyDeleteI remember and it is very nice.
ReplyDelete@ punkin, but I remember when you went to Norway and I still have the postcard!
ReplyDelete@ Steve, FB has been how I've connected with the other two people on this comment area. It's been fabulous for the touchstones.
@ Kenny, there are so many memories going to a little tiny country school. We all grew up together. I still say I worked harder, though. Well except for the wood chopping and barn painting stuff.