Tapping Memory

LOVE Love is not easily defined. Or even expressed. As I see it the world has their whole view of love severely warped. When we see love depicted in or through entertainment and media we often think of warm fuzzy feelings, roses, chocolates, and lots of body contact. However, I think that although love is displayed through these things, a real gauge of love is found where none of these exist. It is found in the couple who is struck by tragedy, but still finds the strength and understanding to move forward in their love. Witht the elderly man and woman who have been partners for over 50 years and know the struggles of a hard fought love. It's found in a labor delivery room. A funeral home and hospital bed. Love is truly found in those times when we do not want to give our love, but find the little voice of truth that tells us love never fails. I am sure it is from my days as a church boy, but I have always believed 1 corinthians 13. Known as the love chapter it paints a picture of what true love is. A sacrifice. Plain and simple. Don't get me wrong there is a lot to be gained through love, but nobody ever wants to talk of the sacrifice. That in our nature as human beings we are selfish. That to love another with our whole heart requires us to remove ourselves from the lime light. We tell the other that our love for them is greater than any need or desire we may have. Selfishness has no place in love. You find though that a sacrifice for love is what makes you whole. It brings the things in life that one could never achieve on their own. It proves that when found, love is the greatest gain of all.

Tapping Memory

SMELL/LOCKER ROOM The smell reminds me of long hard hours of practice and work. Of brotherhood and the power of a team. I spent most of my childhood and teenage years playing a variety of sports. I have tried my hand at almost all. Football, basketball, soccer, track, tennis, golf, swimming, and volleyball. As time went on I honed my skills and narrowed down the list of those that I actually competed in. By my senior year I was focusing mostly on football, soccer, and track. The smell of the locker room is usually consumed by and overpowering aroma of sweat and smelly feet. There were those who would leave their dirty jerseys and laundry in a locker for weeks at a time. The smell sometimes creeping its way to the hallway in which case the coach would demand that something be done. It was a smell that one eventually found comfort in. If the smell did not exist then perhaps we weren't working hard enough at our practices. It was the smell that reminded us of the hard work we were putting in. It was a different smell depending on the sports season too. You could really get down to the specifics if you wanted to. The fact that distance runner's shoes smelled ten times as worse as a sprinters. Or that a lineman's shoulder pads were heavier than a tailback's and therefore held more sweat. Girls would dismiss them all as a general "stank" but, the brothers I shared the locker room with saw differently. The smell was a measure of our success in an odd way. It brought us together rather than drive us apart.

Tapping Memory

GRANDPA ANDERSON When I think of him now there are many images and thoughts that race to the forefront of my mind. He was an incredibly hard and tireless worker who raised sheep and farmed by trade. He took his work seriously and would rise in the earliest hours of the morning to tend to his flock and duties. I have no recollection of him ever complaining about work. In fact it was the exact opposite. He loved his work and I believe it was one of the most satisfying parts of his day. That it was something that brought him joy and peace. The sense of accomplishment of a job well done seemed to be something he experienced daily. As a grown man I find myself wanting to complain. When I think of his ability to control himself in that way I am nudged in a positive direction. He was the father of six girls one of which is my Mother. During the 1940's and 50's boys certainly came in handy on the farm. Extra work hands. Grandpa was not granted this luxuary of passing the work on to young strong boys. Instead he delighted in allowing his little girls to practice their powder and primp skills after a long days work. I have been thinking of him a lot these days. My first daughter Izydor was recently born. On my Grandpa's day of birth. September 21. The cusp of beauty in the astrology world. A statement I find to be true in the face of my beautiful daughter. The other day I was lying on the floor with her and the look on her face was that of my Grandpa's. The light was hitting her hair just right as well and you could see the tints of deep auburn starting to push through. Grandpa had fire engine red hair. It was a moment of realizing the circle of life for me. To think that none of what I have now would be possible without what we did so many years ago. A reminder of how the soul lives on in us and through us. A symbol of just how strong the soul is. KYLE We were best friends for most of high school. We had gone to jr. high together as well but, didn't really start hanging out until the end of freshman year. It's funny how when you're in the moment you imagine things being just the way they are forever. If you would have asked me then Kyle and I would have remained friends not only through high school, but college and eventually adulthood. We'd be the best man at one another's wedding and always have somebody to talk to when the Mrs' became too much to handle. As it stands now I haven't actually spoken to him in almost ten years now. Time and distance I suppose got the better of us. But in today's technological world we are left with very little excuse. It gets me thinking of how all of this technology has and actually is affecting modern day society. Studies are showing that the use of computers, smart phones, and hand held devices are actually changing our brain chemistry. Whoa! Changing our brain chemistry? That's correct. It makes me feel that Kyle and I's friendship is a fatality in this technology driven age. In a world where vivid facial expressions are being replaced by a void stare how can basic day to day friendships and relationships last. It would be interesting to devise a study of the success/failure rate of relationships based on whether or not people were exposed to and more importantly allowed to use the technology of today. Really all just some food for thought. However, the stories and theories of old seem to be coming to life.