Association (Cherish is the word I use to describe..)
Guess what! I made the very painless switch to the new blogger. I figured I ought to just do it while I had the moment and not wait for the inevitable ultimatum from them. Do it or else you can't log in Muhahahahaha! So, if you notice any problems let me know.
Now to the real post:
Through high school, my best friend's mom sewed. Not just something here and there, she had a part time business where she made dance costumes. My friend would have to help her mom when big orders were due. I'd occasionally pick the stray thread or rhinestone from her clothes. As far as I know they still work this business, but a bit more full time now. When I got married, she was my maid of honor and she made my bridesmaid's dresses as my wedding gift. When I think of sewing I cannot help but have stray thoughts run through my mind about her. They are both excellent seamstresses.
My father was a dentist. I worked with him for a number of years (a decade is a number...). I have also worked in various other dental clinics. I know a lot about the business. Inevitably when I think about my father, who died five years ago, I think about dentistry. After he died, whenever the office where I worked would do denture repairs, the acrylic smell would make me think of my dad. When I was little, he would work on such things on occasion at home. The smell means dad to me. Right after he died, when I would smell it, I would tear up. Others would complain about how nasty it made the office smell, but to me it is a wonderful smell.
My husband works with computers. He has had several different computer positions with the same company for the past 14 years. When we met, we exchanged email addresses and got to know each other through lengthy emails. I would dash into the high tech center at the college I was attending to check and see if he had sent me anything. He would straight out skip class to sit at a computer at the University he was attending to wait for me to reply. We were silly. He is the kind of friend who will spend hours with you solving your computer troubles. (No, I will not give you our phone number...hehe). Computing, emailing and such will always remind me of my dear husband.
I live in Phoenix. I have lived here all of my life. I was born over in John C. Lincoln Hospital. I have visited all of the western states. I have enjoyed northern Arizona's cool greenness. But Phoenix is home. It is a huge place, this Phoenix now. But when I was little, it was much smaller. I have seen this city grow up around me and sometimes I don't recognize her. What with all the violence and depressing stuff in the local news. Despite all that...Phoenix will always be home to me.
There are other places that have strong meanings to me. Seattle means Grandma. Mexico means painting schools (I'll share this story sometime soon). Flagstaff means escape.
Association- the connection or relation of ideas, feelings, sensations, etc.; correlation of elements of perception, reasoning, or the like.
My little boys and I went to the park and met up with some friends today. These wonderful ladies have younger children than I do. So, I ended up giving touches of experiences I have already had with my older children. Mostly, I just explained how I don't stress over things with my little ones like I did with the older ones. Eating vegetables and potty training were the main looks at this. As we were leaving one of my friends called me wise. I said that I didn't think of myself as wise, I've just had experiences they hadn't yet. My friend said isn't that what being wise is all about?
My thoughts this afternoon have been on, how others view me. Who am I in their experiences? Is there something they associate strongly with me? Maybe I'm just the friend with all the kids. I am sure there is something more.
So often when I contemplate how others see me, I am drawn to my imperfections. I magnify in my own thoughts the flaws that I must wave like a flag to the rest of the world. But in reality this isn't how others see me. So, what do I project? I certainly never thought it was wisdom.
So what are your favorite associations you have with people or places?
Now to the real post:
Through high school, my best friend's mom sewed. Not just something here and there, she had a part time business where she made dance costumes. My friend would have to help her mom when big orders were due. I'd occasionally pick the stray thread or rhinestone from her clothes. As far as I know they still work this business, but a bit more full time now. When I got married, she was my maid of honor and she made my bridesmaid's dresses as my wedding gift. When I think of sewing I cannot help but have stray thoughts run through my mind about her. They are both excellent seamstresses.
My father was a dentist. I worked with him for a number of years (a decade is a number...). I have also worked in various other dental clinics. I know a lot about the business. Inevitably when I think about my father, who died five years ago, I think about dentistry. After he died, whenever the office where I worked would do denture repairs, the acrylic smell would make me think of my dad. When I was little, he would work on such things on occasion at home. The smell means dad to me. Right after he died, when I would smell it, I would tear up. Others would complain about how nasty it made the office smell, but to me it is a wonderful smell.
My husband works with computers. He has had several different computer positions with the same company for the past 14 years. When we met, we exchanged email addresses and got to know each other through lengthy emails. I would dash into the high tech center at the college I was attending to check and see if he had sent me anything. He would straight out skip class to sit at a computer at the University he was attending to wait for me to reply. We were silly. He is the kind of friend who will spend hours with you solving your computer troubles. (No, I will not give you our phone number...hehe). Computing, emailing and such will always remind me of my dear husband.
I live in Phoenix. I have lived here all of my life. I was born over in John C. Lincoln Hospital. I have visited all of the western states. I have enjoyed northern Arizona's cool greenness. But Phoenix is home. It is a huge place, this Phoenix now. But when I was little, it was much smaller. I have seen this city grow up around me and sometimes I don't recognize her. What with all the violence and depressing stuff in the local news. Despite all that...Phoenix will always be home to me.
There are other places that have strong meanings to me. Seattle means Grandma. Mexico means painting schools (I'll share this story sometime soon). Flagstaff means escape.
Association- the connection or relation of ideas, feelings, sensations, etc.; correlation of elements of perception, reasoning, or the like.
My little boys and I went to the park and met up with some friends today. These wonderful ladies have younger children than I do. So, I ended up giving touches of experiences I have already had with my older children. Mostly, I just explained how I don't stress over things with my little ones like I did with the older ones. Eating vegetables and potty training were the main looks at this. As we were leaving one of my friends called me wise. I said that I didn't think of myself as wise, I've just had experiences they hadn't yet. My friend said isn't that what being wise is all about?
My thoughts this afternoon have been on, how others view me. Who am I in their experiences? Is there something they associate strongly with me? Maybe I'm just the friend with all the kids. I am sure there is something more.
So often when I contemplate how others see me, I am drawn to my imperfections. I magnify in my own thoughts the flaws that I must wave like a flag to the rest of the world. But in reality this isn't how others see me. So, what do I project? I certainly never thought it was wisdom.
So what are your favorite associations you have with people or places?
8 Comments:
I have very strong associations with music. Any song that I hear, I associate to the time in my life when it was popular. Examples- "My Sharona" reminds me of junior high. "Purple Rain" reminds me of the period just after High School....etc.
Just listening to a classic rock station is like taking a daily trip back through my life.
Am I weird or what?
I have lived in Phx since I was 9 - it was 1983 and things were so different! I know exactly what you mean. From back then I have great memories of Great Skate and ice skating at Metrocenter. Did you ever go?
Like a Prayer by Madonna always brings be RIGHT back to how I was feeling one night as I was getting ready to go out with friends in high school and it was the last song I heard before the door bell rang. That perfect, fee, confident, safe feeling.
The other morning it was really brisk and the way the light was, it reminded me of walkign around campus in winter at NAU.
HOT makes me remember my parents' pool and sitting in the back yard with a Diet Coke and a snack while I read a magazine or stupid book and tanned my legs. The sound of our fountain, the light reflections in the pool, the hum of the air conditiners and the cool sprays of water from our pool cleaner as it rounded the corner and a piece popped out.
Sorry so long.
P.S. Email was how my husband and I got to know each other, too. :)
I still have fond memories of the Phoenix where I lived in the early 60's. It doesn't seem like 40 years ago.
Favorite city? San Francisco which will always be my adopted home even though I've been gone for 14 years now.
I agree with Mark on music. Are you enough of a country fan to remember Trisha Yearwood and "The Song Remembers When"? She said it all for me.
What a great post, Oshee!
My dad and his family lived for a while in Phoenix back in the 40's or 50's. I've seen some of the photos, and it has indeed changed a lot!
Hmmm, the association thing almost seems like it should be a meme!
Yay Phoenix. Yay Flagstaff.
I think I associate classic literature with having the flu.
It's when I had time to read.
Maybe I would like Jane Austin if I didn't read her when I had a fever.
But, maybe not.
So first of all, I am now singing that song out loud, my teenage crush on David Cassidy, well remembered.
Great post. It is true that we magnify our flaws to ourselves.
I associate very quickly with smells, like you do with your dad.
The smell of cabbage and humbugs and beets take me directly to my grandmas kitchen. the smell of a sunny day invigorates me......
oh, and mark, although that's not weird, you still are.
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