Ever wonder what causes certain people from childhood to stick in your brain for no discernible reason?
People who, when they pop up on your mental movie screen, cause you to pause and think, “Whoa. Where’d they come from?”
My memory vault is stocked with some strange standouts. I mean, I can understand remembering my very first BFF, the first kid to bully me in school, or the first boy who’s heart I broke.
Those people had a profound enough impact in my life to scorch their own trail to my long-term memory.
But Ian and Derek from Mrs. Gould’s 4th grade class? We did nothing more than share space in the back of the classroom and swap yogurt for Twinkies at lunch. I’d understand remembering them for nearly three decades if we’d at least swapped spit. Maybe it was the unique name or the leather jackets? Or just the fact that they were complete opposites.
Ian, who to me, had the coolest name ever, sat to the right of me for most of the school year. His desk was as orderly and pristine as mine was a black hole that swallowed up my homework and barfed out excuses.
He came to school every day in dress slacks, loafers, a button down shirt and either a navy or red sweater vest. He never misplaced his homework or had to borrow a pencil. Nor did he have a problem loaning his pencils to me when I needed one. He was just a sweet kid who, thankfully, hated Twinkies as much as I hated yogurt.
Behind him sat tall, dark and Polish Derek. The “Bad Boy” of 4th grade. (If the 4th grade can have “bad boys” that is.) He wasn’t a jerk, that I remember, but he sure could pull off an attitude that matched his “Thriller” uniform; leather pants, either black or red, a matching jacket full of zippers and buckles, and high-top shoes.
He was the only kid in the school who could outrun me, but not by much. And if my desk was a black hole, then his was a supernova. Nothing that entered his desk came out unscathed, or at all.
Though the three of us did team up once in a while (a very unlikely-looking trio) for assignments or kickball, I can’t pinpoint one thing about them that stands out enough to make them so extremely memorable. Yet I’ve named my firstborn after one and pillaged the memories of both for personality traits and quirks for characters that haven’t yet found a home in stories.
Somewhere, somehow, in the ten-month span of 4th grade, they did something that caused my subconscious to freeze-frame them permanently in my mental photo album. And the ego part of me sometimes wonders, “do I stick out for no good reason in their memories too?”
Do you have any memories of people that cause you to ask yourself – “What the heck? Why him/her?”
Photo Credit: My Dad
Yes. This phenomena happens to me all too frequently. It can be a sight, a smell, something that my mind has used as a trigger for that moment in my life. Sometimes it’s nice to remember. Sometimes not so much. Found you through LinkedIn Blogger group. 🙂
Geek Girl recently posted..Gardening – A Family Activity
Hi GG! Thanks for stopping by. I hear you on the “sometimes not so much” memories of people. I have plenty of those too, though I refuse to waste white space and letters on them.
Though, I have to say, those memories also get pillaged for character/personality traits…
I know what you mean. Some years ago, I bought some software with names and telephone numbers (pre Internet). I looked for a fellow, I went to elementary school with, found him and had a nice conversation.
Now we have Facebook and LinkedIn, and some old acquaintances have looked me up.
Stan recently posted..How to Use Facebook for Fundraising
Enjoyed your blog especially your insightful delights. I have so many memories, especially when as 2nd graders, 4 of us lil’ girls formed Sunshine Girls, that lasted for 6 years (when we graduated in 8th grade).
Hi Gloria! The “Sunshine Girls!” I love it. I bet you guys had some great adventures. My son and his friends have formed their own Geo-caching adventure group and are now on a quest to earn our city’s Parks & Rec coin. I’ll have to post about their adventures some day.
Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment!
Karen recently posted..Odd Finds in the Memory Vault
This happens to me all the time! I have to believe that certain people pop into your mind for a reason…
Bonnie recently posted..You don’t have to change your life overnight.
It’s crazy what we remember from the past. Interesting post. Wonder what Ian is doing know? Argile sweater is probably part of his wardrobe.
I wonder about him too! I remember him being really good at math. I kind of picture him as the next Einstein or Bill Gates.
Childhood memories are very interesting and random!
And it’s crazy what will trigger those memories!
I write abiut memories like this so i very much enjoy reading your article. To answer your question, all the time. It’s as if these individuals have come back to life when that happens. Sometimes I can even remember something that may have been a trigger. :), Susan Cooper visiting from LinkedIn
I agree! Some people just reappear in your head as clearly as if they were standing in front of you. Thank you, Susan, for taking the time to come by and leave a comment!
I love popping into the memory vault from time to time. I used to make fun of my grandmother and her memories and stories, now I find myself telling — anyone who’ll listen – my own stories!
John recently posted..Vacation’s all I ever wanted…
Hi John! I know what you mean! I used to laugh quietly at older family memebers’ stories of years gone by too. Now I -am- one of those older family members…
That’ll teach me to laugh at anyone!