Too many memories not to write them down

If I had one true goal in life, it would be that the stories, the traditions not be forgotten. Oh that could sound a little noble…I’m going to be the great storyteller, but maybe I already am in some circles. I find I have a fairly decent memory for details and people. In fact, I worry that I remember too much sometimes, more than the average person and that maybe someone thinks I’m a little weird when I say “yes, of course we’ve met” when the person looking at me hasn’t the faintest idea of who I am. I’m not one of those “unforgettable” people. The ones who remember every detail in their lives…thank goodness. But I wonder how close I am when I remember things that others don’t. Then I worry that I’ll forget what is truly important…in fact I already regret some of the memories that I haven’t recorded. That’s what my goal is all about. Remembering and recording…yes, it’s my mantra “write it down.” If it was worth retelling a second, third, fourth and more times, maybe it’s worth writing down. You say you’re not a writer? Or you don’t even like to write? So who says you have to be the writer? The important thing about memories, personal history and experiences is that it be recorded somewhere for someone to remember somehow. Maybe that’s by audio recording or video recording, maybe it is a scrapbook of photos or a published photobook. There are many ways to record your memories or all the stories your grandmother told you. I keep meaning to do the research about the years in the 1930s when Penobscot Bay froze over. Of course, I wasn’t around to remember it, but someone did and they told me about it when I was a child. But with those people gone now, it’s up to me to “remember” and write down the experiences they told me about, but I need a basis for doing that….some research, and of course, the time to do the research. I also remember the tales of a great aunt and uncle’s wedding before anyone owned cars, and she wore long skirts and high button shoes. Now she’s gone and I’m forgetting the details. I don’t want to be one of those people who live in the past, but I want people to know and remember what the past has given them. By writing about my goal, and my wish list for writing down the memories, I’m achieving, at least in part, my goal to urge everyone to “write it down.” And, if you need help in how to get those memories out of your head or someone else’s and onto some form of recording, I'm willing to help. Who knows? Helping you may ultimately help me get those pesky memories recorded, too.