I can remember silly things with seemingly little value; page numbers from books and shoes people wore at parties; but forget the names of prescription drugs I take. Why is that? I also don’t remember much of 1987 the first time I had cancer, most of that year is blurry. If I see an old photo I might recall some of it, but not much. Your mind tries to hide negative moments so you don’t carry them around on your journey. You have to work at it though, bad memories are like dogs waiting by the door trying to bolt out the second you’re not looking. I know some people who let those dogs out all of the time and then make everyone else corral them back inside. I’ve learned by trial and error instead to constantly fill up the memory bank with funny stories to keep the crummy ones out. Ages ago poor people lived large in small houses sharing rich stories passed down over the ages. Now lonely people live in big houses reading little stories about strangers on Facebook without talking to each other for days. The key to health and happiness is getting together with real people to remind ourselves who we are and where we’re going.
I still stay in touch with my high school friends even though we have traveled on different walks of life in separate lands. What we have in common is collective memories from growing up in a small town where our paths all intersected. A few of us got together a couple days ago at The Fort View Inn. You can see Fort Ticonderoga from the bay window; how people dream up names for businesses like this I’ll never understand. We didn’t whine about the things that normally capture discussions like health, the economy, or politics. Instead we told a lot of funny stories about under age drinking, guns, and car wrecks and wondered out loud why we’re still here, but thankful we are just the same. Without a doubt I think about those times with fondness content with the notion I didn’t let my children behave like me. The world is a better place to be sure.
If we don’t get together and share those stories then they fade away before you know it and worse yet the vacuum allows negative thoughts to creep back in. The cartoon character of the grumpy old man is as real as the grass under our feet. People become that way because they isolate themselves from others and only have one way conversations with themselves or the TV set. Don’t become that person by letting setbacks hold you back. As hard as it maybe get out in the world and see real people; you’ll make the world a better place even if it’s just yours. Rekindling memories with friends is one thing, but memories with families is another. One unintended consequence of writing this blog has been it created a family album of my stories that would have eventually faded from our collective family memory if I hadn’t written them down. At least now I can someday comfortably depart this world knowing that my grand daughter Quinn will one day yearn to shoot a shotgun from a speeding station wagon or down flaming shots of Jack Daniels late at night. How else would I want to be remembered? Slainte.
“Ages ago poor people lived large in small houses sharing rich stories passed down over the ages. Now lonely people live in big houses reading little stories about strangers on Facebook without talking to each other for days.”
Truth
Paul, thanks for reading and commenting! Pete
Pete, look forward to your stories and “wise” counsel every week. Love the pictures to each as well. God bless!
Stan, great to hear from you; best wishes out west! Pete
Thank you for including us on this Journey ❤️
I have Friendships since pre school and we all keep in touch …and when we get together in Connecticut
we laugh for hours . we pick up wher we left off.
Life is Better with Family and Friends and as we continue to walk trough our challenges one day /one memory at a time.
Laughter and Love is The BEST medicine
You are a Blessing to all !💜
Loren, nice to hear from you as always. Keep up the good work on your end! Pete
Agree Pete Lawson, we look forward to being with people who know how to enjoy a good conversation. We always love a good Pete story.
Another Favorite! ❤️
Shelley, the constant re-shoveling of the favorites. You may need to pick a favorite some day. Pete
Absolutely priceless!!! Love the thought of our grandkids doing half the things we MAY have done!!! To Devin, never say never!!! Stay well y’all!!!
I think I have lived a high hurdle for the grand kids to some day climb over, but you never know it may be in the genes.
Wow , that certainly opened up my Eyes ! Nothing could be Farther from the Truth , another great View Point , Thanks Pete and Happy Anniversary !
Tom, you know as well as I the ample material Ticonderoga provides us. Pete
I may know one of those high school buddies . Stay well Pete
Jim, Mike was at the table with me at the Fort View. Pete
As much as you like to remember the past good times. Keep in mind there will be many good times in the future. Only if you create them. !!! Aunt Nancy
Nancy, nice to see you at The Hague House last week; your trip to Ireland sounded great! Pete
PETE AS ALWAYS A GREAT ONE GOING BACK TO THE GOOD OLD DAYS THEY ALWAYS MAKE MY DAY REMEMBER THAT SAYING ANGELS WATCHING OVER YOU AND DIANE
Beverly, the good old days need to be remembered and passed down to everyone else. Pete
Very well put Pete! Reaching out to old friends isn’t all that difficult but we seem to regress in to that ‘don’t make the effort’ mode. It is very rewarding to meet up and relive the tales we have created. Good for the heart and sole! Do it while we still can!
Terry, nice to see you in Ti this week. The biggest challenge with contacting old friends is taking the first step. I also tell people if you want to get mail; then you need to send mail out. Pete
Dad,
Great post. Quinn will not be shooting a shotgun out of a speeding station wagon. By the time she’s old enough, it’ll probably be a speeding electric vehicle.
Devin
With self driving cars it’ll be a lot easier to shoot out of the back seat, just sayin’
gee, your Devin seems to be a bit of a wise guy. Hard to guess where that vein of humor came from…
“… you’ll make the world a better place, even if it’s just yours.” That is where all change begins, right? Thus, that powerful notion “Let it begin with me.”
Georgette, Devin definitely has wise guys genes, maybe got them from Sheila? Pete
Pete,
THANK YOU for being such an inspiration and taking the time to write these posts. I am repeatedly moved by your wit and humility and feel truly honored and grateful to have you in my life. This post really says everything about LIVING a great life and not just existing.
Greg, as you know too well living and existing are two different things. I’d rather live a short robust life than a long cranky one. Pax, Pete
Pete, you have recalled many great stories that I enjoy reading. Keep them coming. 🍀
Grace, I had some complaints from people saying New Jersey got slighted on the last post. I’m glad you and Anthony are from Rhode Island. Pete