Memories, (Kind of) Light the Corners of My Mind

Deep in our sub-conscious, we are told

Lie all our memories, lie all the notes

Of all the music we have ever heard

And all the phrases those we loved have spoken. .

          "Nothing is Lost"

             Noel Coward

Really, Noel? Not me.

My older sister claims to remember when she first learned to read (precociously early, of course) and the day our parents brought me home from the hospital. As an older sister, I realize it's her duty to be superior to me in all things, even recollections of our childhood. However, this isn't much of an achievement considering how god-awful my memory is. 

            My husband begins almost all references to our shared experiences with "you probably don't remember, but. . . "  As a result, he's in charge of our marital history: what year my father was born, when Aunt Clarabelle died, how many semesters our daughter was a resident assistant at Northeastern. Thank God we've been happily married all these years. A divorce would literally eradicate 44 years of my life.

            In my writing group, which I've been with for . . well, I don't recall how long - most of the members are working on memoirs. I find all of the writers truly impressive, not only  because they've all had really interesting lives, either through colorful families, careers, or travel, but they can actually remember what happened.

            Perhaps my expectations are too high. Maybe everyone sees their past the way I do, brief scenes that are suddenly illuminated and then just as suddenly plunge to darkness. Scenes that, like dreams, leave me trying to grab hold of them before they disappear, without reaching completion.

            Is it any wonder that I write fiction, creating my own memories.

            If I don't like them, I can just edit.