Memories
Aging and nostalgia, I know them well.
Some nostalgic memories:
Billie Joel, before:
Billie Joe, after:
Nostalgia has a funny way of sneaking up on us as we get older. It's that warm, fuzzy feeling we get when we think about the past. Maybe it's a song that takes us back to high school days or a certain smell that reminds us of family gatherings. As we age, these memories seem to carry even more weight. They're not just moments tucked away in the past. They become reflections of who we were and how far we've come, grounding us in our identity.
Aging has a way of making us look back more often. It's not a bad thing though. It's like flipping through an old photo album and finding joy in the stories each picture tells. Remembering those moments can feel like visiting old friends. Even the memories that were once just ordinary days can bring a smile to our faces now.
As the years pass, we often find ourselves cherishing the simple things in life. That favorite book we read over and over or those times we took our kids to the zoo. These memories remind us of the experiences that shaped us and the people who influenced our journey.
Aging also brings a unique wisdom. We've learned from our mistakes and celebrated our victories. We understand the value of time and the importance of making the most of the present while appreciating the past. It's a mix of looking back with fondness and sadness. There is also regret about what we failed or wish we could have done better.
But this wisdom empowers us to live more fully in the present.
Nostalgia turns our past into a treasure trove, full of moments that are always ready to make us smile. One aspect of aging is the process of collecting more memories to add to that treasure. Both nostalgia and aging remind us that life is a journey. That journey is full of moments to cherish and other painful moments we wish we could forget. Whether we're remembering our first job or the place we grew up, it's all part of what makes us who we are. And that, in itself, is something truly special.
This reads like a post that was fun to write. Well done!
An excellent essay, Allan. Thanks for it. I think about this subject often. As you know, I am an optimist who, at 78 with a heart condition, still wakes up each morning genuinely believing my best days are still ahead of me. But of course, those days will be very different than in the past. When I hear Bruce Springsteen's "Glory Days," I always say to myself, that's not me. These days are filled with new challenges (eg. helping a disabled spouse) and new rewards (eg. helping a disabled spouse.) Writing about the upcoming election, as I do, is as important as having stood on Independence Mall with a million people on a cold November day, protesting against the Nixon WH and the war. Reading new books with new ideas, or those that look at old stuff differently, are still mind-expanding even at our ages. For me, nostalgia is not yearning for the past but rather appreciating the past while still looking forward to the future. By coincidence, I have finished an essay on this subject that I will post after the election michegoss is behind us.
The most memorable bumper sticker I ever saw said "Nostalgia isn't what it used to be."