Blog 3696 – 12.18.2025

Memories

I saw a quote recently imploring women especially to write their memoirs lest their precious memories be forever lost and forgotten. Many people my age and even younger live in fear that Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia will robe them of their precious memories. The Barbra Streisand song from the movie, The Way We Were, says it so well, “What’s too painful to remember we may choose to forget, but it’s the laughter, we will remember, whenever we remember, the way we were.”

One of my long cherished beliefs, that I have not discarded because it still serves me, is that my higher power, my higher best self, keeps all of my precious memories safe and secure while casting those painful, harmful, and no longer serving ones into the sea of forgetfulness.

In college I recall one professor advising the class regarding note taking, “If you want to remember anything ‘Write it down.’” So ladies and men, young and old, record your story for your friends for your family, for posterity, and for yourself,  especially the things that made you smile or laugh.

One of Nicolas Sparks’ early books and movies, The Notebook, tells the story of Allie, portrayed by Rachel McAdams and Gena Rowlands, who wrote her story down before she lost her memories to Alzheimer’s, gave the notebook to her husband, instructing him, “Read this to me and I will come back to you.”

Last night my wife and I, who often watch DVD’s together in the evenings while staying in our RV Camper, watched one of our favorite movies, Australia. Drover played by Hugh Jackman says to the Boss Lady played by Nicole Kidman, “In the end all we have of value is our story.”

“So it’s the memories, we will remember, whenever we remember, the way we were.”

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David James White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1zRodvt6wJfGiPuNEWrgHBGf7J30Pv_X1/view?usp=drivesdk

How Does A Moment Last Forever