I have the worst memory. Really the worst.
My dad and I were talking just yesterday about strategies for beating insomnia. We both suffer occasionally, and my dad gives me the best tips for breaking The Loop (my name for obsessive thoughts that hit me mostly between 3:00am and my alarm clock going off.
His latest piece of advice is to remember something pleasant from the past. He told me that he picks a memory and tries to remember every detail--every thought, sight, scent and sound. He especially likes memories from our family's year in England or our skiing trips. Dad says that he can remember specific skiing trails and the swish, swish sound of his skis.
That just amazes me. I can't remember details from yesterday. But what if I really worked at it? I think the problem is that I'm so busy moving forward at 100 mph that I don't slow down enough to remember.
Today was a sweet day that I got to slow down and remember as we told stories and reminisced about my Grandma Evans' life.
I had the most fun with my cousin Michael. He started off by asking me if I grow peonys. I do! Then he asked me if the scent of peonys always reminds me of Grandma. I had never even thought about it, but during the spring and summer, she always had a peony or rose in the middle of her table. My Grandpa had a beautiful English garden right smack in the middle of Topeka, KS.
We started talking about all kinds of childhood memories that I hadn't replayed in years. I especially loved my grandparents yard. They had a screen house where we'd play and eat out. There were paths all through the flowers and some yummy things, too. I remember my Grandpa scared me to death when he chased me out of his strawberries with a broom one day.
We often "played" croquet. It was actually playing who could hit the ball the hardest and maybe whack your cousin. Anyway, we had a croquet set.
And I loved going barefoot in that lovely carpet of grass. That was until I woke up in the morning with chigger bites all along my underwear lines. Hate those nasty mid-western critters!
Memories. What a gift. I realize that so many don't have many happy childhood memories, but those happy ones are such a gift. When you close your eyes and let your mind drift, is there anything that you would share?
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Peonys and Chiggers
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1 comment:
Amy, my prayers for you this week have included your family. My grandmother died on September 14, 1988. For years every time I thought about her I cried. Sometimes I stil do. She never got to se me graduate high school but I think she would have been proud of me. When my grandmother died my aunt and uncle told family members not to send flowers but instead they wanted them to sen the money they would have spent on flowers. They took that money and put it in an account to go towards my first semester of college. They felt that's what she would have wanted. I have many wonderful memories of her and the times I spent with her. One thing I remember is baking cookies with her. I remember times when my sisters and cousins would pick onme me and my grandmother would make them all go outside. I was the oldest grandchild and the only one who was visually impaired. Even though I can't see anymore I still have visual memories of my grandmother and our times together. All my memories of her will be with me forever. Memories like sitting with her at night watching T.V. have become special memories to me.
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