We went to my oldest sister's 50th wedding anniversary party last night. Oh my, I can't believe that any of us are old enough. It was a lovely affair, all four of her children were there and their children. There was delicious food, the wine flowed in sync with my sister's tears. She kept saying how blessed her life has been, what a wonderful family, extended family, and friends they have. Who would have thought that a couple married at such young ages (she was 18!!!) would make it to their 50th anniversary. There was a woman there who'd gone to high school with my sister who was saying how everyone from their class had been divorced and remarried. What are the odds of a marriage lasting when one is so young, unformed, not having experienced the world?
I was very, very young when they were married. I remember the dress my sister wore, a white sheath, but little more. My memory of long ago comes back in photos, snapshots of an event. It's funny what one remembers and forgets. When my friends who I went to high school with and I get together we all seem to have different memories of the same event. If we could somehow pool everything together we might have the whole picture! I tend to remember events and conversations because of some feeling I had at the moment it occurred. It tends to be a strong feeling, i.e, shock, surprise, or something revealing of the person who made the comment. I'd like to know more about memory and where it is stored in our minds. Is there any way to access more memory? Is it filed away in our heads like a computer? I deeply regret that I can't remember every single moment of my son's early life. It was all so prescious to me. I get very nostalgic when I think of Alec as a young boy. I miss that boy who is now a man.