Memories from a simpler time

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The new year is as much about reflections on a well-lived life as it is about looking forward to a fresh start and making resolutions for the coming 12 months.

As I am not one who is good at making resolutions, let alone reaching those goals, I find it easier to look back upon life.

Turns out there are many positive benefits of reminiscing about happy times. According to PsychologyToday.com, “Research suggests that regularly remembering or recalling happy times can increase feelings of positivity and resilience.”

Reliving happy memories can also boost positive emotions, reduce stress, improve mental well being, strengthen resilience, and even enhance our quality of sleep.

According to Jessa Claire, on enlightio.com, memories strengthen family bonds and relationships.

One of my first memories while attending Mass at Immaculate Catholic Church in Owensville as a young child involves my father’s shoulder. Many times I would become sleepy while sitting in a pew during church. It can be boring for a youngster who does not understand the intricacies of Mass. My father’s shoulder — unlike my mother’s — was big and soft, creating the perfect place to rest a young boy’s head while his eyes closed.

I did not grow up an only child. My kid sister entered this world when I was 15 months old.

Of course we fought. As I remember, it was primarily good-natured fun — sibling rivalry. There was a wonderful time in our lives — after she was old enough and before I entered middle school — when we did everything together. 

Across the street, behind our grandparents’ house, was a hickory tree. It was the perfect tree to climb for two children. In the limbs of that tree, we constructed a tree house. We spent countless hours full of adventure in and around that tree.

As I grew up, our home was full of music — music on the radio, vinyl records on the turntable, or, most importantly, from the antique player piano in our family room. 

During the holidays, mother would insert a roll of perforated paper into the player piano. When we were big enough, my sister and I would take turns using our feet to pump the bellows, causing an inrush of air through the holes in the paper, which in turn played notes on the piano faster than humanly possible by any person limited to ten fingers.

Growing up, one of my fondest memories was falling asleep while my mother tickled the ivories on that piano. 

I still enjoy listening to her play the piano.

During the 70s snow was plentiful, giving a teenager many opportunities to get in trouble. Fortunately, that did not happen to me or my group of friends. 

During that period, small towns did not spend money to spread cinders or salt on side streets. This allowed us to enjoy sledding down hills of packed snow on our Western Auto flexible flyer sleds. If it were below 20 degrees, a metal barrel would sometimes appear containing a hot fire to warm your hands.

When a pond froze over, we connected these same sleds to a Honda 90 ATV for more excitement. Unfortunately, the laws of physics ruined some of the sleds, as the metal runners bent under the constant force, as we made left-hand turns on the ice, similar to NASCAR racers. 

There are no photographs preserved on Kodachrome to solidify these, and many other memories from my childhood. They are forever etched into the neurons in my brain.

Photographs by the hundreds stored in albums in my living room attest to more great memories. As memories fade a photograph reignites the past. 

The use of personal cell phones has made reliving memories easier. We no longer have to wait for a 24 or 36 roll of Kodak film to be exposed in a camera, place it into a special envelope, and wait for the U.S. Postal Service to return the printed pictures to our mailbox.

My iPhone has a memories feature in the photo app that presents photos and videos of a past activity or theme set to music. 

It also allows me to create one and share it with friends and family. 

May you and your family enjoy a safe and prosperous new year as you relive happy memories from your life. By sharing them, you can even create a new memory, strengthening the bonds of your family.