“Strange, what brings these past things so vividly back to us, sometimes!”
The warm weather is gone and the 50’s have replaced it. The sun was shining but has since disappeared. It’s a stay home sort of day. I have mail from when I was gone to go through and a few dvr’d television programs to watch. I’ll just stretch out on the couch with my phone handy and enjoy a quiet day. I still ache and yelp when I stand up, but my knees do seem a bit better.
I have some singular memories of certain days and events.
The town plowed the field, filled in the swamp and took down the trees where we had spent so much of our childhood. They build elderly apartments. My father always called it wrinkle city. I remember a lady whose robe had caught on fire. When they brought her out, she had no hair. I can still see that. I don’t remember her looking burned, just bald. When I was in the seventh grade, they found I had a heart murmur. My dad took me for a ride and told me about it. He explained I would be tested to make sure everything was okay. I remember how gentle he sounded. My dad was the disciplinarian and a screamer so this gentleness scared me a bit. Later, though, all was well. I remember the drive to Logan the day I left for Peace Corps staging. I sat in the back and said little as did my parents. I don’t remember saying good-bye at the gate, but I do remember trying to settle all my carry-on at my seat. The man beside me wanted to know if I was running away from home. I told him I was going in the Peace Corps, and he bought me drinks. Not long after I bought my house, my car started to smoke on the way home from buying groceries. I remember crying because I had no money to fix it. All of my money had gone into the house, insurance and passing papers. What would I do without a car? Well, it was only a hose and water hitting the hot engine, but I still remember how distraught I was. I even remember exactly the car was when the engine started to smoke.
My memory drawers are filled, and I love to sift through them hoping for a surprise, something I had forgotten but now remember. These other memories, these singular memories, stay etched by themselves in a separate drawer. They, in some way, changed me. I don’t forget them for that.
Explore posts in the same categories: MusingsTags: bad knees, burned lady, cooler day, favored memories, memories, memory drawers, Peace Corps staging
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
May 13, 2014 at 1:43 pm
Damon Albarn’s “Everyday Robots” is a bit somber but half way through it he sings of Mr Tembo, an orphan elephant he met in Tanzania (queue the Ghana stories) .
About an hour ago, Albarn threw the official elephant video up on youtube, recorded at a church in Leytonstone.
Relax on the sofa, meet a little elephant and enjoy Mr Albarn
May 13, 2014 at 1:59 pm
My Dear Hedley,
That was a wonderful video and a great song. I loved the last shot of the elephant walking away.
I did watch while on the sofa with the computer on my lap.
May 13, 2014 at 2:26 pm
Its not the Paga, but you cant have everything.
I am not recommending the new Eels album to you. it is music to jump off the roof to… Four tracks in and you would be telling Gracie to watch this as you launch yourself from the peak of Katmansion.
May 13, 2014 at 3:01 pm
Hedley and Kat, I liked E(els)’ live radio versions (Same album?)
http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2014/05/12/eels-mark-everett
Anyway, only 3 songs, so Gracie is safe 😉
May 13, 2014 at 3:10 pm
Kat, same album.
I do like “where I am from”, but in general the tone is negative and the arrangements very sparse. Daisies, Electroshock, Blinking Lights had a mixture of emotions which seem to be lacking from Cautionary Tales, which is firmly Debbie Downer.
The tour starts tonight and we will be at the Royal Oak in early June – woofing from the front row
I bought the double disc for a whole $10 and will persevere for a while, but the Brian Eno is a lot more fun.
May 13, 2014 at 6:06 pm
My Dear Hedley,
I heard one of the songs on NPR, which one I don’t remember, while I was driving home. I liked it but knowing what an Eel fan you are I will vow to your critique.
May 13, 2014 at 2:15 pm
It will turn towards more summer like weather here again from now on, or at least they predict it. The evening here was sunny and warm though after a day with mostly rainfall.
I can remember when my car started to smoke too, I had just bought it, a Citroen DS21 and like You I had no money to fix it. Citroen isn’t like any other car and it turned out that the hand break was placed beneath the engine beside the front wheels and I had forgotten to release it when I drove home from my grandmother 🙂 The odd thing was that the smoke was pinkish 🙂 It just had to cool down some and then I could drive homewards again 🙂
Have a grat day!
Christer.
May 13, 2014 at 6:13 pm
Christer,
It is already chilly here at the end of the day and tomorrow will only be in the 50’s. Spring is taking a breather.
We can both be thankful the smoke was of little matter. Nothing is worse than a huge car bill when you haven’t any money.
I have been lazy today trying to make my knee feel better. It is but still hurts.
Enjoy your evening!
May 13, 2014 at 2:56 pm
I also remember where my car started to smoke, also nothing serious, a 2-hour traffic jam was just too much for my old Renault4.
Btw I had a rental car until this morning, I ordered the cheapest one they offered and got a brand new black BMW limousine for the same price. Driving was fun! Too bad I had to return this car.
May 13, 2014 at 6:14 pm
Birgit,
The two hour traffic jam would have had me, the person, smoking in anger. I hate traffic jams, and I always seem to find one.
A BMW would make it fun to drive for me as well.
May 13, 2014 at 4:35 pm
Hi Kat,
I found Moxie in Shaw’s today. It brought back memories of the old First National grocery store where I used to buy the stuff many years ago. I can even see in my mind’s eye the exact spot in the old store where the tonic was shelved.
Your story of the woman with burned off hair made me remember witnessing a car push a pedestrian through the plate glass window of the local art supply store.
Today was errand day. Post office, craft store, Staples, walk by the lake and take photos, grocery store, water the grass seeds. I am done and done in. Planting grass in the back bare spot will have to wait. Rocky is curled up on the couch and I’m going to join him. 🙂
Enjoy the day.
May 13, 2014 at 6:21 pm
Hi Caryn,
Stoneham used to have a First National, once the only supermarket in town, then came Star market cleaner and brighter and within time that FN became the Stop & Shop.
I haven’t ever been a Moxie fan.
I slept for a long time this afternoon, and my knee still hurts so I’ve been lying low and probably will tomorrow too.
Have a wonderful evening!