Total Recall
Providing endless excruciating details isn’t the best method for describing all experiences. Details omitted reveal more about the quality of the interaction. I am seldom at a loss for words, but often at a loss of documentation. I’ve begun noticing the richer the experience, the less I rely upon pictures to stimulate memory. Frequently, they only serve as stored megabytes of nothingness. They never adequately frame the context of the moment, nor do they capture the musty smell of fallen leaves, or the constant trickle of the mountain as the water oozes form its crevices.
I have no documentation of the visit with meno, only photos of the weather which did not plague us until the day of her departure. After weeks of sub-freezing temperatures, the sun had mercy upon our hiking plans and made a hospitable appearance for two entire days.
A quality of a good comfortable friendship, is the ease with which you can relax in the presence of one another. Pjs (hers), bed-head (mine) and a taciturn agreement that dialogue is completely unnecessary prior to consuming the first cup of coffee or tea.
There is little wine remaining, a few cookie crumbs, and empty water bottles to be put away. The fraidy cat, who resided under the sofa for two days is making regular appearances at the water bowl. The attitude afflicted cat who had a territorial dispute with meno, is still looking for a warm place to sleep. The television is turned on for the first time in three days, my mate has returned home, and female camaraderie is returning to the west coast.
February 18th, 2009 at 10:49 pm
glad you’re here
February 18th, 2009 at 11:16 pm
It sounds great – I am sure you two had a terrific time!
After losing videos/pictures to accidents (lost, erasures) I have started feeling the same way. 99% of my pictures are in boxes or on cds, never looked at. I might as well remember them better and experience them than spend all my time taking them in the first place.
February 19th, 2009 at 8:52 am
maybe men are more visual animals, but I find that photographs help stimulate my buried memories. I admit freely that it usually has an inverse relationship with time, but holds true most of the time. However, I also find that surroundings, smells, – the more visceral reminders of past events – do have a much longer lasting effect than the pictures, but usually for fewer events.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:58 am
It sounds like my kind of visit!
February 19th, 2009 at 10:50 am
nice new digs.
February 19th, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Ha! I’ve found you! Though it wasn’t too hard, since you told me where to find ya.
Glad your visit with meno kicked ass. I bet you two found plenty to rant about.
February 19th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
Oooohhh…I’m jealous. Jealous because I know what a pleasure it is to spend time with meno, and because I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting you. Yet. (Stalked much?
)
Love the new digs.
February 20th, 2009 at 8:10 am
flutter, you found it! That means my directions don’t suck after all.
sari, I still take photos, but I tend to do it more on solo trips. I don’t want to miss something because I’m fumbling with the camera or working too hard framing shots.
Bob, It isn’t that I don’t take pictures, I do. But when I’m spending time with someone I don’t usually get to, I feel like I’m forfeiting opportunities to visit if I’m preoccupied with the camera. I’m a little embarrassed to admit there are more than 10,000 photos on my hard drive.
Diane, relaxed visits are the best visits.
crazymumma, the big fluffy chair is empty, why not sit there?
rachel, I think I might have done most of the ranting.
NancePants, thank you. Wow, I haven’t been stalked since college! I feel so young again!
February 20th, 2009 at 9:45 pm
I like that you guys always have cookies when you connect.
February 23rd, 2009 at 2:18 pm
Daisy, cookies are an important component of bonding.
February 23rd, 2009 at 4:11 pm
Sorry I’m late… is there any of that wine left? Nah, I’ll wait ’til tomorrow and have a fabulous hot cup of coffee. I need sleep and my own bed today – a week with the parents and the kids, sleeping on the floor – I need recovery time.
February 23rd, 2009 at 11:01 pm
de, rarely is there a shortage wine, cointreau however, is another story.
February 26th, 2009 at 6:39 pm
It was nice of you not to photograph my purple plaid pjs.
February 28th, 2009 at 11:31 am
meno, and you thought courtesy was dead