I remember waking up on Sunday mornings while my parents slept and I watched the Smurfs. I especially liked Papa Smurf.
I remember eating my first kala-khatta gola (Indian version of snow cone) on the corner of a populated street in Jamnagar, India.
I remember getting my eyebrows threaded for the first time at age twelve in India.
I remember walking in the front door after school. On the table was my after-school snack, a baked potato with lots of cheddar cheese and jalepenos.
I remember wearing Debbie Gibson vests and dancing to the New Kids on the Block with my sister in our living room. I can still hear us singing, “You Got It, The Right Stuff.”
I remember eating Collin Street Bakery fruit cake with my Mom, Dad and Sister while Hindi songs played on the boom box.
I remember my friend Scott performing the Heimlich Maneuver on me in high school English class because I was choking on a Gobstopper.
I remember the English teacher who told me I would go to hell because I practiced Hinduism. I will never forget that moment.
I remember my first kiss. It was with with my then boyfriend, now husband.
I remember eating baguettes, cheese, and French pastries in the countryside of France with my husband during our honeymoon.
I remember sitting with my husband on a park bench, overlooking a pond and talking for hours about nothing in particular.
I remember when I interlaced my fingers with my sister and we simultaneously pushed the button to cremate my Father.
I remember listening to my daughter read for the first time.
***This post was done as part of a writing exercise hosted by Christine, Lindsey, Denise & Sarah. Thanks for the inspiration ladies.
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What do you remember? Memorialize it. You’ll be surprised at what stands out.
Welcome! I am a lawyer turned freelance writer, essayist, and editor. On staff at Literary Mama and the co-founder and co-editor of the literary journal, The Sunlight Press, my essays and reported work have appeared in The Washington Post, The Lily, Saveur, Civil Eats, Brain, Child, ESPN and elsewhere. I am currently at work on a memoir on grief and culture and how it provides perspective on life’s ordinary graces. I invite you to appreciate the ordinary with me. I hope my daily practice of seeing the magic in the mundane helps you celebrate and find more of these moments in your life too.
Loved your recollections here. The one about your English teacher and the comment on Hinduism is unbelievable. And the first kiss with someone you want to spend the rest of your life with? Priceless and absolutely unforgettable.
I loved doing this exercise because it helped me recollect memories that I had forgotten. It’s amazing what stands out.
These are beautiful, Rudri. So glad you joined in the exercise. So many of your memories pierced me–the high school teacher’s words; your first kiss with your then boyfriend and now husband; talking with your husband for hours about nothing in particular. So many memories that remind me of my own life. I feel like I really got to know more about you through these memories.
Thanks Amber. I remember the simplicity of our days together, before responsibilities, kids, and real world concerns. It was living without worrying about what was to come.
I love these! Thank you so much for sharing them. xox
Thanks for stopping by Lindsey. Appreciate it.
I have Debbie Gibson memories too…and I bet my dad does also. Especially since I made him play Electric Youth over and over and over in the car anytime he was kind enough to drive me somewhere. Lucky man.
PS: LOVE your new site. It looks fantastic!
Debbie Gibson and I go way back. I also recorded a session of me singing “In Your Eyes” in one of those fun studios at an amusement park. I thought I could sing. I made my whole family listen to my version of the song over and over again.
Glad you liked the site CK. Thanks!
Oh my goodness!! I was a HUGE New Kids on the Block fan. Shhhh. Don’t tell anyone. 🙂
Love that you joined us!!
Yes. I intended to keep my NKOTB obssesion a secret until this exercise!
Dang, I loved that Debbie Gibson. I’m pretty sure I copied her hair for several years. *cringe*
And those Gobstoppers are dangerous! I can’t tell you how many times I swallowed those suckers.
Glad you never choked on one. As you know from my story, not so fun when one gets jammed in your throat.
Rudri,
I love your memories filled of wonder and love.
very sweet, and painful as well. The one that gave me goose bumps is the one about your sister and you joined in that sad devastating moment. It makes me sad.
I love it all. xoxo.
Ayala: Thanks for tender and thoughtful comment. Yes, that was a moment filled with pain of the past and the present and of the future. But I will never forget it even though it happened over two years ago. It’s etched in my mind. xoxo
I feel the power of the moment when you and your sister pushed that button. What’s so emotional about it for me is it’s simplicity. Identifying that single moment in time–without any further explanation or description–is universal. We all have suffered loss and grief and pain. You bring us there with you, recounting our own experiences with such sadness.
On a happier note, I love ALL your memories. The silly ones the best, probably because I have them too!
Sarah,
Thanks for inspiring us to do this exercise. I was surprised at what stood out. I will do this exercise every year. It’s healthy to unearth what you remember.
Oh Rudri. Goosebumps and rush of raw emotion surged when I read your memory about your father. So powerful, so raw. So simultaneously sad and beautiful.
And, I’d like to kick that English teacher in the butt. What an arrogant, ignorant jackass. I think the mix of arrogance and stupidity is one of the worst combinations.
I’m so glad you shared your I Remembers. xo
Thanks Denise. I appreciate you stopping by. And thanks for the inspiration to do this exercise.
I can not believe that English teacher said such a horrible thing to you! Some of your memories are very sweet. memories are powerful the way they tug on emotion and pull us into the past and propel us into the future.
I agree Suzicate. It’s always a good exercise to reflect on what has happened in order to make changes in the future. You are always shaping your present based on your conscious and subconscious decisions.
I want to smack your English teacher. And I love that your first kiss was with your husband.
I love that I remembered that first kiss.
This totally made me cry. Note to self: Don’t read Rudri’s posts during work. 😉 Great post!
I have so many thoughts running through my head – the good and the bad – but can’t quite articulate. I love this verse: “In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;”. Anyways…I always think that great writers take us to the place where our groanings are too deep for words – too deep to articulate. Well done.
Leyla,
Thanks for this very thoughtful comment. I recommend that everyone participate in this exercise. You will surprise yourself. Glad my words moved you. Thanks so much. ‘
Goodness…I’m sorry to hear about that English teacher. It reeks of fundamentalist, born-again Christian Oprah episode…
I was sorry that she said it. That comment has stayed with me for years.
I was told that I was going to hell as well, but it was said by one of our priests at church. I was supposedly in the devils pocket because I missed church. Odd, right? That sort of thing sticks with you forever. I’m sorry that you EVER heard that you were going to hell. Shame on your teacher!
Alita
Alita,
Thanks for your comment on my post. Those words do have a way with staying with you and leaving an unforgettable impression.