A post on memory

Because I've been feeling a little nostalgic, I dug out some old photos that I took while still an employee at CUP.

This is my favorite girl from "downstairs", Karen, whose birthday it was just this past Saturday. Happy birthday, my dear, wish I could've been there to tell you in person.

This is Benny - Mr. Mashimaro himself - and me goofing around. We're the smallest people in the office and the picture was taken by Gina, who is one of the tallest in the office, which explains why there's so much space above Benny's head and mine. We look even smaller than usual here.

My old desk.

It really is true - when time removes you from the actual experience, you remember only the good parts, the memory naturally edits out the unsavory and leaves a wholesome sheen. My desk was a place where I often seethed and grumbled and wrote small poems about running away to see the world, but when I think of it now, I see Karen and Gina stopping by to chat, Benny rushing nervously to meet the director, Barney and Andrew bugging me to quit working and banter with them, Susan waiting for me to finish an email before we'd go for lunch and cd-hunting, Nigel looming over to discuss the latest LOTR news, Janet and Joean saying goodbye at the day's end, Auntie sweeping my eraser shavings and smiling as I apologize for my mess.

I dwell on the past a lot, if only because it tells me how far I've travelled in life. I grew up quite a bit in my CUP days, and met some terrific people. Some are still friends, others I may never meet again. Even if I do see them once more, they'll view me differently - no longer the rookie editor - perhaps they won't know what to say to me and I them. There is only the past between us, and after a while, even that loses its sheen.

Posted by Monoceros at October 27, 2003 11:02 PM