Memories. Those recollections from the past — including the embarrassing moments, which I would like to forget unless I want a good laugh at myself.
But there are those precious moments I want to remember. Memories etched deep in my being, a safe haven I can return to when I need to get through difficult times.
But memories change over time and usually don’t accurately reflect what happened because simply recalling memories enhances and distorts them; in the process of remembering a memory, you change the memory.
One reason is the positivity effect where we tend to remember the positive over the negative: a past relationship that has ended, but you still remember the “good times”.
Or the egocentric bias, where we remember ourselves as being better than we are, altering our memories to improve our self-image. During my last quarter at the University of Oregon, I completed 27 class credits to graduate on time! Or did I?
But for me, it isn’t the specifics of the memory that are important. It’s the feelings, the emotions that the memory invokes: The freedom and independence of hitchhiking with a friend between L.A. and Eugene; feeling butterflies in my stomach on the blind date with my future wife of 50 years; the love and warmth I felt, slow dancing in the middle of the night with my son in my arms, coaxing him back to sleep.
But I worry. Just as the picture of a memory will lose its clarity, I’m afraid those deep personal emotions will fade as I replay the memory over and over. They will lose their emotional power, and then I will lose a special piece of my life that will never return.
I can’t return to the birth of those special moments, and if I did, I would be disappointed. It wouldn’t be the same as what I remembered. But for me, I don’t want to lose the emotions and feelings: the excitement, the joy, the comfort. Remembering those special moments and the associated emotions from the past gives me the strength to live in the present and create new memories.
The Alzheimer’s Association reminds us that it is never too early or too late to take charge of your brain health. To help you take charge, they will be presenting three Community Conferences on Brain Health, Aging, and Alzheimer’s Science. You will learn about the latest in Alzheimer’s science, practical tips for enhancing brain health, and community resources. All ages are welcome and encouraged to attend. (Space is limited and registration is required, and lunch will be provided!)
The community conferences will be held at:
• Sherman County Community Center, 300 Dewey St., Moro, Wednesday, Aug. 27 from noon to 4 p.m.
• Gateway Church, 1111 Dry Hollow Road, The Dalles on Thursday, Aug. 28 from noon to 4 p.m.
• FISH Food Bank, 1130 Tucker Road, Hood River, on Aug. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
To register, call the Alzheimer’s 24/7 Helpline at 1-800-272-3900 or go online at www.alz.org/orswwa/events/community-conferences.
•••
Brain Tease: Can you decode these two quotes from Dr. Seuss? (Hint. Use the Atbash Cipher — if you have any idea what that is!)
1. “Hlnvgrnvh gsv jfvhgrlmh ziv xlnkorxzgvw zmw gsv zmhdvih ziv hrnkov.”
2. “Z kvihlm’h z kvihlm, ml nzggvi sld hnzoo.”
•••
The name of the decorative lamp, invented in 1963, and consisting of water and a mix of mineral oil, paraffin wax, and carbon tetrachloride inside a glass vessel, is a lava lamp. I received correct answers from Donna Mollet, Bruce Johnson, Doug Nelson, Tina Castanares, Shelly Hinatsu, Pat Pettit, Julie Hoffman, Lana Tepfer, Dave Lutgens, Craig Terry, Jay Waterbury, Rose Schulz, Rebecca Abrams, Pat Evenson-Brady, Keith and Marlene Clymer — who still have one in their living room!, Elaine Kirby, and Liz Nichols, who is this week’s winner of a quilt raffle ticket.
And last week, while searching for lightning bugs, I missed Rose Schulz and Craig Terry.
Born in Butte, Montana, in 1938, this stunt performer and entertainer attempted more than 75 ramp-to-ramp motorcycle jumps in his career, including his attempt to jump the Snake River on September 8, 1974. For this week’s “Remember When” question, who was this legendary performer? Email your answer to mcseniorcenter@gmail.com, leave a message at 541-980-4645, or send it with a picture of the rocket-powered cycle called the Skycycle X-2.
•••
Well, it’s been another week, trying to live as if my life depended on it. Until we meet again, it takes a lot of work to make things look easy.
•••
“When so many are lonely as seem to be lonely, it would be inexcusably selfish to be lonely alone.”
— Tennessee Williams
•••
Nutritious home-delivered and in-person meals are available at noon Monday through Friday unless otherwise noted.
Seniors of Mosier Valley (541-980-1157) — Wednesdays with music on second and fourth Wednesdays; Mt. Hood Town Hall (541-308-5997) — Tuesdays; Hood River Valley Adult Center (541-386-2060); Sherman County Senior and Community Center (541-565-3191); The Dalles Meals-on-Wheels (541-298-8333).
For meal sites in Washington, call Klickitat County Senior Services: Goldendale office (509-773-3757) or the White Salmon office (509-493-3068), and in Skamania County call Senior Services (509-427-3990).
Answers:
1. “Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”
2. “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
Commented