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Memories, Nostalgia, The Past, The Present
Posted by
msmike1
,
18 May 2012
·
292 views
I saw a post in the forum the other day that related to nostalgia. Now, I don't remember everything about the post or all the comments made. What I do remember is starting to type a response, and erasing the few sentences that I typed because I hit a verbal wall. I knew exactly what I wanted to say, but couldn't really express it fully. Well, I couldn't express it fully to the point that others reading it would understand my feeling of nostalgia. What I mean by this is that for me nostalgia is an extremely important, enlightening, happy experience. At the same time it is a sad, depressing, and stagnant feeling that plucks the heart strings. I have so many fond memories of my past, and reminiscing about them brings me great happiness as well as leads me in certain directions in my current life. Other memories bring me sadness, but lead me in certain directions as well.
I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful childhood, and the fond memories certainly outweigh the bad. I feel for those less fortunate who have no fond memories to reflect on. No fond memories to lead them in their lives, and certainly no memories that serve as learning experiences to guide them down their winding road. It could be argued that bad experiences can be used as learning experiences. I believe this is true to an infinite extent. It's always important to know what not to do although too many bad experiences can alter a person beyond repair. Every person is physically, mentally, and emotionally different in ways that we could never understand. Memories of our past are like clouds in the sky. They are seen differently by each individual person.
I grew up in south Mississippi, born in 1977, and lived in a rural area. I was in heaven, because to me being free, having open spaces to roam, walking outside and experiencing nature in an intimate way. These things, while not really thought about at the time, are some of the stops in my road that made me who I am today. My mind was like a clean sheet of paper, and every experience that I had drew a picture on that sheet of paper. As it filled up with drawings another would appear and be another page in my book of life. I pitty those that have never walked outside as a 6 yr old boy, looked up at the sky that was a color blue not describable and felt the heat of a Mississippi summer warm their body as well as their soul. Smelled a hay field just cut, that was damp with dew and embarking on whatever novel adventrue awaited him that day. Watching clouds build up in the distance as the heat warmed them up and filled them with the summer rains that breathe life into the land around us. Hearing the thunder in the distance and knowing you better get home because it's coming and they come up quick. I wasn't worried though, because they came up quick, but left just as quickly. Almost like they knew we needed the rain, but didn't want to spoil my day entirely. Stepping outside after the liquid life subsided to see the steam rising off the pond and ground,and your senses being assaulted by new smells, sights and sounds that the water brought out. No smell of pavement, or wet asphault. Just the smell of wet earth, grass, and air. It's getting dark now, and my mother is hollering from the back door for me to come eat supper. It's amazing that in that day and time she never wondered where I was roaming, or what I was getting into because she didn't have to. I was safe. Something few can say today. I was safe though. Protected by the land I roamed, water I fished, game I hunted, and a society that was so much different then.
It's at this point that sadness sets in, and I don't feel like typing anymore. At least not right now anyway. It was so much different then. Not just for me, but everything. I know there were "grown up problems" then too. I didn't have to worry about them. So, there is the beginning of my nostalgia, past, or memories. Whatever. Hopefully I will write more later. Most I am sure won't "get it" as I would say. My mind gets it though. Read it or not, it helps just putting it down in words.
Mike
I was fortunate enough to have a wonderful childhood, and the fond memories certainly outweigh the bad. I feel for those less fortunate who have no fond memories to reflect on. No fond memories to lead them in their lives, and certainly no memories that serve as learning experiences to guide them down their winding road. It could be argued that bad experiences can be used as learning experiences. I believe this is true to an infinite extent. It's always important to know what not to do although too many bad experiences can alter a person beyond repair. Every person is physically, mentally, and emotionally different in ways that we could never understand. Memories of our past are like clouds in the sky. They are seen differently by each individual person.
I grew up in south Mississippi, born in 1977, and lived in a rural area. I was in heaven, because to me being free, having open spaces to roam, walking outside and experiencing nature in an intimate way. These things, while not really thought about at the time, are some of the stops in my road that made me who I am today. My mind was like a clean sheet of paper, and every experience that I had drew a picture on that sheet of paper. As it filled up with drawings another would appear and be another page in my book of life. I pitty those that have never walked outside as a 6 yr old boy, looked up at the sky that was a color blue not describable and felt the heat of a Mississippi summer warm their body as well as their soul. Smelled a hay field just cut, that was damp with dew and embarking on whatever novel adventrue awaited him that day. Watching clouds build up in the distance as the heat warmed them up and filled them with the summer rains that breathe life into the land around us. Hearing the thunder in the distance and knowing you better get home because it's coming and they come up quick. I wasn't worried though, because they came up quick, but left just as quickly. Almost like they knew we needed the rain, but didn't want to spoil my day entirely. Stepping outside after the liquid life subsided to see the steam rising off the pond and ground,and your senses being assaulted by new smells, sights and sounds that the water brought out. No smell of pavement, or wet asphault. Just the smell of wet earth, grass, and air. It's getting dark now, and my mother is hollering from the back door for me to come eat supper. It's amazing that in that day and time she never wondered where I was roaming, or what I was getting into because she didn't have to. I was safe. Something few can say today. I was safe though. Protected by the land I roamed, water I fished, game I hunted, and a society that was so much different then.
It's at this point that sadness sets in, and I don't feel like typing anymore. At least not right now anyway. It was so much different then. Not just for me, but everything. I know there were "grown up problems" then too. I didn't have to worry about them. So, there is the beginning of my nostalgia, past, or memories. Whatever. Hopefully I will write more later. Most I am sure won't "get it" as I would say. My mind gets it though. Read it or not, it helps just putting it down in words.
Mike
