MEMORIES

Penny For Your Thoughts By: Nancy Whitaker

Does everyone recall their school friends? Could you recognize them today if you hadn’t seen them for 30 years?

Sometimes someone will say, “Hello Nancy,” and I have to think and think if I know them or not. 

On one occasion I ran into a guy in a store and he recognized me. I looked at him and the first thing coming out of my mouth was, “Well it’s sure good to see you because I heard you had passed away!”

“Nope,” he says, “I’m still here.” 

Talk about feeling bad, I sure did. However, we talked and as I walked away I thought,  “Oh, maybe that was someone else that died.” My memory had failed me, but I was so happy that he was alive.

I find as I get older, I can go back in my past and remember a lot of things. Some good, some bad. One good memory I have is from the 1950s and what a simple life we lived. No internet, a crank phone, no TV, an old Maytag washer, hanging clothing on the line and yes, I remember the outhouse.

At the time I was young and thought everyone lived like us and was pretty happy. School included yellow tablets, lead pencils, a chalkboard, packing your lunch and I loved school. I have good memories of those days. 

Of course, I have good memories about having my 4 children, but a bad memory came about when my husband died at age 47.

I also recall when I was a young chick I was working 6 days a week in a restaurant and going to computer school in Fort Wayne on my day off. I just wanted to be somebody and hard work was the only way to do that. 

Following my education, I worked for General Telephone for about 4 years. The reason I quit? ((Gas went up to 50 cents a gallon!))

That brought memories of computers being as big as a room, a big card file, wiring boards for the computers and lots of key punch operators. 

Today, my kids are grown, I have 10 grandkids and 8 great and that is one of the greatest accomplishments for me.

Speaking of some of my awesome memories, I have always tended to lose things, get lost, get speeding tickets, and eat lots of chocolate. 

Not too long ago I came into my home and everything was so dark. I thought oh no we lost the power. As I struggled to find a flashlight, I glanced out a window and even though it was sunny, it looked dark out too. 

Oh no! I had my glasses on so I took them off and guess what? They were my sun glasses. I still had power and could see lights. Wow what a relief!

Another time I thought I left my glasses in a restaurant so a friend drove to the restaurant to see if they found them. Yes, the restaurant had found a pair.

Well when the glasses were returned to me I put them on and said, “These are mine. These are mine.” 

About  a half hour later I found my own glasses in the bathroom. I found out that I had not left them at the restaurant, the ones at the restaurant they had weren’t mine. It was so strange taking those restaurant glasses back because I had called and told the restaurant the ones they had were mine. 

But making mistakes, getting lost, misplacing things and forgetting you have sunglasses on isn’t that bad. At least I can still remember good things in life and you know what? I forget what I had for breakfast.  

But I do remember eating big bowls of oatmeal with either sugar and cream on it for breakfast when I was young and that is still a good memory

Do you remember school days? Or who was in your class? What did you eat for breakfast today? Let me know and I’ll give you a nickel for your thoughts!  No, no.  I forgot, it’s a Penny For Your Thoughts.