Things I Once Loved

How can I grow if I no longer remember who I once was?  All I will be doing is repeating the same mistakes, like in "Groundhog Day".  At least he learned along the way.  Will I?  Part of my journey is dealing with memories of the things I used to love.  I will deal with the painful ones later.

I spent some time in meditation the other day.  I wanted to find out if the things I used to love still made me smile.  Some of them do.  I question whether they are more a part of me now, or if they are only the past. The list, while by no means complete, was an eye opener for me.  If you see yourself, chances are you and I are on the same road.  Here goes:

*Dad holding my hand as we ran ahead of Mom and Grandma at Niagara Falls
*Those big swirly suckers that Mom always broke into pieces
*Chocolate Easter bunnies with no ears
*Music, from Clapton to Vivaldi, Jackson Browne to Zombies, Chicago to Santana and all between
*Popsicles from the corner market
*The smell of freshly turned dirt in Grandpa's garden
*Watching thunderstorms from the front porch, the forks of lightning streaking to Earth
*Carnivals, county fairs and church festivals
*Holding a baby, his tiny fingers grasping mine
*Parties with music and chip dip and dancing in a dark corner
* McDonald's french fries (Admit it. Even the smell makes you salivate!)
*The lake, rough with wind; the silky quiet of the lagoons
*Knock-knock and elephant jokes (Why did the elephant paint her toenails red?  So she could hide in the  cherry tree!)
*Old boyfriends, or even wanna-be's, especially ----. Yum.  No, I am not telling.  No, not even you.
*The water from a mountain spring
*Hearing the first peepers, or the cardinal's mating call in the spring
*Coloring books and Barbie dolls

Like the Beatles' song, "In My Life", there are places I remember...though some have gone on and some remain...all these places had their moments; with lovers and friends I still can recall...some are dead and some are living...in my life, I loved them all.

The sights and sounds, the smells and tastes and touches, spring forth like a geyser .  I have a headache from so many mementos vying for a place in my frontal lobe.  Remember me?  Remember me!!

It will be a long time before I fall asleep tonight.