[This is my entry for week 10 of the Book of Me, Written by You series created by Julie Goucher]
It took me sometime to think of something to write for this one. I have two memories that stick out as “only I remember them” moments.
Memory number 1. When I was about 7 or 8, I distinctly remember that someone on my Grandma Shellabarger’s side was involved in a fire. Their house burned down and they lost everything. My Mom was always very giving and we donated things to the family. I remember this so vividly because the person’s daughter was my age and I gave them some of my clothes. I even remember going to visit my Grandmother in Santa Cruz and we took bags of stuff with us to be picked up by my Great Aunt Julie.
And…I am the only one who remembers this! My Mom doesn’t remember it at all. When I asked a couple of my Great Aunt’s children about it they could not remember the incident.
So, who the heck had the fire, why did we give stuff to them, and why do I connect it so much with my Great Aunt who I only met in person maybe a handful of times?
The second memory comes earlier. My Dad had many friends. He was the type who could talk to anyone and made friends easily. I remember the friend that owned the liquor store on Lewelling Blvd. The reason I remember so well is that in the back room he had a small film projector and had a collection of animated cartoons on film.
I remember there being events there for kids. He’d show these cartoons for us. It was special, after all, Beta Max video recorders hadn’t even been invented yet. I have a very vivid memory of watching Touche Turtle cartoons. I suspect this friend was associated with Little League. My parents were deeply involved in the local Little League in the 1960s and 1970s (my Dad long after…until he was 82). They knew so many people from the league.
One day when I when I was about 18, I pointed the place out while driving with my middle sister. She gave me a blank stare. A few years later, while in the car with my Dad I asked him “Hey, remember your friend that used to own that liquor store right there…” Crickets. He had no clue who I was talking about. None of my siblings remember ever being inside the building.
So, why do I remember that place specifically? I have no clue! My brother would tell me I was making things up. LOL Honestly, I truly believe I watched movies in that back room of that liquor store when I was 4 or 5 years old. But, since I am the only one who remember, when and where did it really happen? Was it there or do I have memories confused.
I guess we all have memories like this. Perhaps I dreamed them both. More likely there is a kernel of truth in both of them but I remember it differently than it really was. Sort of the names have been changed to protect the innocent 😉
