Such a beautiful walk by the lake this morning, and so many lively conversations. When I first found out about TPW and then met the group of amazing people, I was sure I could never remember everyone’s name. And now, many years later, I am quite sure I won’t ever forget any of my special and unique friends, or their names. What was I worried about?
Forgetting can be embarrassing but likely also necessary. That movie, the author of the book I just read, the name of the plant right in front of me, when I last saw a certain relative, all gone. Did I choose to put that information aside or did it just slip through the spaces I am using to hang onto more important matters? I have begun to think that there is a finite amount that this brain can retain and that in order to keep moving ahead, I, and maybe you too, will just have to drop off the detritus that just isn’t needed at the moment. Could it be shelved for another time? Maybe not. The trouble is that it seems impossible to choose what stays and what goes. I would very happily get rid of certain unpleasant memories, and useless trivia that are cluttering up my brain. Do I really need to recall the phone number of my best friend in grade three? Couldn’t I put something more useful in that space – like where I left my phone just now?
Those of us who are of a certain age are often on our guard when it comes to our memories.Wouldn’t it be lovely if we could simply forget to worry about that and just enjoy our conversations knowing that our friends will either remember what we forget, or forget the same damn things and joyfully move ahead with us?
