I have a habit of remembering major international events that occurred when I was in a place.
For example, I was staying at the Intercontinental Hotel in Djibouti after a couple of grueling weeks in Somalia when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated.
I was in Managua, Nicaragua, when Princess Diana died. I was in La Paz, Bolivia, when Bill Clinton fired cruise missiles at Sudan. I was driving through Lusaka, Zambia, the night Operation Desert Storm was launched.
I also wrote information on the front page of whatever book I was reading at the time. I read “A River Runs Through It” on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Johannesburg. I read Wendell Berry’s “The Hidden Scar” at a sidewalk coffeehouse in Amsterdam one fine spring morning. I read Alan Whitehead’s “The Blue Nile” and “The White Nile” while staying at the Accrapole Hotel in Khartoum.
Finally, I have my passports, all 7 of them, which date back to the early 1980s.
Thank you for sharing your great examples of collecting your memories in alternative ways. I love the idea of writing on the front page of your book. Your passports must be interesting, with many different stamps. I listen to audio books as I sew, so when I look at something I have made it seems to have the spirit of the book I was listening to at the time!
I have included in my memoir a few memories told to me by others, that I don't remember because I was too young -- a funny thing my grandpa did to entertain me and my cousins, for example. I have also included, as what I hope is subtle background information, facts or insights that I didn't learn or hit upon until later. I've done as little of this as possible, but I've had a lot of fun collecting other people's memories and saving them in my main timeline document.
You make an excellent point. The more stories the better. It is also interesting what others recall, and if their memories of the same occasion are different from yours. It is great that you are collecting memories. Memory collector sounds like a dream job!
I have a habit of remembering major international events that occurred when I was in a place.
For example, I was staying at the Intercontinental Hotel in Djibouti after a couple of grueling weeks in Somalia when Nelson Mandela was inaugurated.
I was in Managua, Nicaragua, when Princess Diana died. I was in La Paz, Bolivia, when Bill Clinton fired cruise missiles at Sudan. I was driving through Lusaka, Zambia, the night Operation Desert Storm was launched.
I also wrote information on the front page of whatever book I was reading at the time. I read “A River Runs Through It” on a KLM flight from Amsterdam to Johannesburg. I read Wendell Berry’s “The Hidden Scar” at a sidewalk coffeehouse in Amsterdam one fine spring morning. I read Alan Whitehead’s “The Blue Nile” and “The White Nile” while staying at the Accrapole Hotel in Khartoum.
Finally, I have my passports, all 7 of them, which date back to the early 1980s.
I have a matrix upon which to hang my memories.
Thank you for sharing your great examples of collecting your memories in alternative ways. I love the idea of writing on the front page of your book. Your passports must be interesting, with many different stamps. I listen to audio books as I sew, so when I look at something I have made it seems to have the spirit of the book I was listening to at the time!
I just loved reading this... what an incredible journey.
Thank you so much! It was an amazing journey.
Another well written piece. You really bring out those memories and emotions. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you so much for your comments. I do hope it inspires folk to recall their own adventures - big & small, we all have adventures.
That's quite a journey, Kate! Thank you for a really interesting account of it.
Thank you! It was really fun to recall and for the deep memories to surface again.
I have included in my memoir a few memories told to me by others, that I don't remember because I was too young -- a funny thing my grandpa did to entertain me and my cousins, for example. I have also included, as what I hope is subtle background information, facts or insights that I didn't learn or hit upon until later. I've done as little of this as possible, but I've had a lot of fun collecting other people's memories and saving them in my main timeline document.
You make an excellent point. The more stories the better. It is also interesting what others recall, and if their memories of the same occasion are different from yours. It is great that you are collecting memories. Memory collector sounds like a dream job!