When it comes to the past everyone writes fiction... Stephen King
I just finished reading a new Stephen King novel, Joyland. It's about a
college student and his summer working at a carnival. By King standards it was
very mild. It brought to mind the games and festivities I grew up with
living at a beach resort. I really liked the quote, it made me think.
Now that my children, have children I have taken to sharing their childhood
personalities with them. Their children are a lot like they were. My son was
extremely bright, determined, and straight forward. My daughter was charming
smart, loved people. She also knew how to get what she wanted.
I have countless stories, anecdotal's, and even their baby book quotes (
the bible of facts) to prove my points. They question whether these things ever
happened. Of course they happened. They happened the way I tell them 25-30
years ago. They don't remember. If I can add enough background info my son
usually says , ok I think I remember. My daughter, accepts the story, but has no
memory of it.
We had a phrase in kindergarten that was, " that's about the size, where
you put your eyes". That's what the past has come down to. We view the world
through our unique lenses. I see what I see, I hear what I hear, and that is
not necessarily what you see or hear. My memories, fiction for you even if you
lived them right next to me. Are you confused? He ain't Stephen King for
nothing.
We are all stars on the stage of our own life's play, a rephrasing of Shakespeare. What we remember reflects our priorities and values, our subjective needs and personality, colored by our biases, even when we struggle to give a strictly objective report. Thus "eye witnesses" give radically differing accounts. I am constantly amused at a childhood friend's memory of my maternal grandfather. She had no living grandfather. She even refers to mine as Grandpa, which often causes me to pause until I realize who she means. But her memories are vivid and demonstrate how children absorb everything adults say and do. I am thankful that she has such happy memories that she shares with me of some stories I do not remember. I sometimes wonder if he told her stories when I wasn't present. Regardless, I enjoy hearing those stories now.
ReplyDeleteBarbara