Hearts drawn backwards

Quote of the Day:

... as we sit at this window table on this brightly coloured morning, with easy laughter exchanging our present lives, our hearts drawn backwards down a long corridor of memories - Jean

"One of the best things for me about blogging," I explained to friends last night, "Is the literary quality of writing. There are people out there with enormous talent that in the cut-throat world of "who's best" we would otherwise, never, get to read."

I find myself, once again, in an environment of people who, as Danny would say, just "don't get blogs."

When I arrived back at the hotel Richard's post about his favorite age aroused memories for me of days gone by. Last night my dreams were enriched with a cast of characters from many different periods of my life. Of course they were also enhanced by the fact that I am back in Buffalo meeting people who have, already so quickly, become part of my past. I cannot get over how just three months ago friends and colleagues in Buffalo were connected to my present and future, and these past two days as we wine and dine, our talk is a nostalgic reminiscing about yesterdays together.

I can't help but think about getting older these days. My birthday is coming up, Richard talks about favorite ages and Ronni explores what it's really like to get older.  I wonder why we reach back to our past memories so much as we get older. Has looking to the future become frightening to think about? Or is it to remind ourselves of who we were so that we can be sure of who we are now?

Comments

[Jean]

I clicked over here in my lunch hour and blushed when I read this. On my own in my office. Embarrassed (but in a good way) by what I saw on my computer screen! Gosh I'm deeply flattered that you like my writing, thank you.

Why we reach back so much to our past memories - well, the older we get the more of these we have. I guess that's one reason.

Why we blog about them a lot. I think I often blog about memories because there aren't the confidentiality issues that arise with current stories and people. And because no one has to read it if it bores them!

Mostly, in daily life, the memories are implicit rather than explicit. I don't think we reminisced about the past once during the lunch with old friends that I wrote about yesterday. But much of the meaning and depth of our shared present lies in our shared memories.

When I read Richard's piece about his favourite ages, I thought: it's about what was happening to him, not how old he was.

I agree, though (with Ronni) that there is a new discourse to be written and shared about getting older, as the prevalent one is inadequate and inaccurate.

And, no, I don't think thinking and talking about past indicates fear of the future. I usually think: well if I survived THAT...

As for being sure of who we are: impossible, probably not desirable...

[Tamar]

Ah Jean - you see - more beautiful writing!

[Brenda]

My Bloglines feed shut me out and won't let me back in, and no number of emails to Bloglines seems to help! I'm missing the nearly daily treats you offer! I'm so far behind, I guess I'll just have to rely on the old clicking by hand method to come by ... -:) lol xo

[Tamar]

Brenda,
How lovely to have you stop by again.