“And sometimes remembering will lead to a story, which makes it forever. That’s what stories are for. Stories are for joining the past to the future. Stories are for those late hours in the night when you can’t remember how you got from where you were to where you are. Stories are for eternity, when memory is erased, when there is nothing to remember except the story.”
― Tim O’Brien, The Things They Carried
Image: Typewriter at this awwweome stationary shop at Brunswick by Pauline Mak via Flickr
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.
Oh how I love this. I’m pretty sure you’ve recommended The Things They Carried to me before…it’s definitely on my list. Thanks for this, Rudri.
Dina,
So happy this quote resonated with you. Yes, I am a fan of Tim O’Brien – his short stories linger long after you finish reading his prose.
Beautiful quite – so true. This rings true when I hear my mom retelling stories from my childhood or about her life and experiences. They help us come together and connect. 🙂 Have a great one Rudri! -Iva
Stories offer such a thread to string all our experiences together. Understanding perspective is best learned through the stories we share with others. Glad you enjoyed the quote, Iva.
Love this! xo