I always remember my father telling me that he was very upset by Bob Dylan admitting that there was not too much deep meaning behind many of his songs. For a sensitive youth who lived and died by some of those words my father never quite got over the disappointment.
This story has stuck with me, and as I get older a feeling of disconnect and disappointment gets keener with my own touchstones. I can imbue things, keepsakes, and indeed memories of events with such heightened emotional content, that inevitably I end up disappointed when I compare my interior life with that of others.
In our lounge we have a framed Indian door pennant, bought over a decade ago for me from Portobello Road market by someone I love very much. I framed it in old gold and it sits like some ancient artifact above a door. Reunited again after years apart he had no memory of it, and that made me so sad for a while. I do know however the amount of water that has passed under our respective bridges over the years, but it crystallised for me the meaning that I can impart to things that others have no awareness of. If you want to live with only authentic emotion it goes with the territory that you will often be left a little out on your own.
He did however remember the relief of cold drinks on a warm day, and happiness at seeing a familiar face during a difficult time. I guess we all have different ways of remembering and I just need to hold onto that.
I like to keep hold of things that relate to happy memories too, maybe others just hold on to the memories in their heads? The important thing is, you remember the things that have made you happy and can have fun reminding those that have forgotten :) x
ReplyDeleteWow Jo, amazing post and I agree whole heartedly but could never have said it as well.
ReplyDeleteHello, this is another lovely post! My older sister and I often have very different memories of the same events. She remembers so many details and emotions whereas half the time I either can't remember most of it or I have a different take on it to her. Not sure what that says about either of us :) x
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. I am a keeper of things - tickets, champagne corks, postcards. I have my bus ticket from the first day I met Dave. I think when it comes down to it, you have to remember that even with two people in an event, the memories, and how they remember will be different.
ReplyDeleteYes, so true, and I could never have put it as well as you did. My keeping borders on hoarding sometimes, I fear!
ReplyDelete(I love it when I visit a favourite blog and find there are lots of lovely posts to read. It makes me happy!) x