“What strange things are memory… and hope. One looks backward,
the other forward; one is of today, the other of tomorrow. Memory is history
recorded in our brain… Memory is a painter. It paints pictures of the past and
of the day.”
The
above is a quote from Grandma Moses… an older young lady for whom recording her
own memories through paintings and writings became a way of life and a legacy
to her family, as well as to an admiring nation.
If
you read these entries on a regular basis (well,
as regularly as the past few weeks’ lack of writing permits…) then you
certainly are aware that to me, memories are the stuff of life; the background
which, like a launching pad, propels me to whatever else may happen in my life later
today or tomorrow. This morning, this quote was the base of an open discussion
in the ESL class; opening the way for many to express their agreement or
disagreement with these concepts. Some felt that, indeed, memories are too
important to be relegated to a shut drawer in the farther recesses of the
brain. Others felt that too many older people, especially those who have come
here from other cultures and lifestyles, spend too much time pining for the
years gone by and the lives led in their own countries.
Both
views are, in my perception, right… How so? You may ask… in about 11 days it will be
my 50th anniversary in the Good Ol’ US of A. That’s right!! It was fifty years ago that
yours truly, a budding teen, along with a sister and a planeload (one of
many!!!) of refugees landed in Miami Miami that was extremely different that the Miami
Yet,
during these 50 years and despite all the ups and downs and rounds and rounds
that my life has experienced, those early memories remained solid in my mind and
heart. There were many times when these provided me with a strong enough base, to be able to withstand some of life’s more fierce attacks. At the same time,
new memories were (and are!) being forged every day. Some are beautiful, some are horribly painful but in
the end they are, collectively, what makes up my being.
But,
are memories all that we have to go on? By no means… this is where the second
part of the equation and of Grandma Moses’ quote comes into play. Hopes… dreams…
desires for a tomorrow that will be better than today. Or… at least as good…
When
I look at tomorrow, all I see are possibilities. Of a better living, sharing,
growing… of venturing into more and more avenues and roads; roads full of
wonderments that I may have never seen before… and roads which may feel like
going back to relive a well trodden memory, but seeing it through eyes which
observe everything through a new perception of time lived and spent, eyes that
are anxious to see where this old friend road may take me anew.
I
often write in these entries about the fact that sometimes, after a writing
draught, there is a “flash” which usually comes from an unlooked for corner…
Although some blogs have talked about the ESL classes before –after all, they
are the stories of real people in real life circumstances- this insight and
writing trigger was not expected today… even less from Grandma Moses…
Now
that I finally have stopped long enough to put my fingers to this computer
again, it is my defined commitment to do so at least three times a week.
Perhaps the results may not be outstanding or earth shattering… but they will
come –as they usually do- from the heart. And sometimes from the mind… Yes, Virginia... there is one!
Thanks
for sticking by me during these weeks; I have received notes and calls from
several people. Some I do know personally and cherish as friends; others I don’t know but
equally cherish as potential friends…
Be
Well … Be Back!!!
Final Notes:
- Pray for those who are fighting an illness which
may take them away from their loved ones… Every request is heard, and
counts!!
- Follow us on Twitter … @RJAsPandora
- Any comments please send to otherboxp@yahoo.com
- Remember: We are “On Air” every Sunday night at
6:30pm EST (GT –5hrs). http://www.blogtalkradio.com/theotherbox If the link does not work, please just copy and paste
to your address bar.
- “La
Otra Caja de Pandora”… The
Spanish language Blog… “otracaja.blogspot.com”
… Bienvenidos!!!
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