I’ve been in a ‘thinking mode’ lately, which is possibly the reason why I haven’t been able to write. So many millions, trillions?, of thoughts have run through my head this past week that catching one of them to write about has been nearly impossible. But, I’ve managed to grab one before it got away.

I was looking down at my fingernails this morning, and I thought of my 2 1/2 year old grandson. He loves my fingernails. I keep them long, (self)manicured, and always painted a pretty color. After having a nasty nail biting habit for most of my life, I’m proud of my now long fingernails. My grandson will sit in my lap and touch each fingernail on my hand. He’s fascinated by them. He is also fascinated with my long hair. He rubs it softly, holds the ends and tickles his face, or lays his face on my hair, and sometimes even tries to eat it. That’s a ‘yucky’. ha ha ha

So where did that memory/thought lead? To more thoughts, of course: Will my grandson remember me by my long fingernails and long hair? Is that what he’ll think of when he is grown and I’m possibly no longer here? Strange thought, isn’t it? But it made me wonder about the things we choose to remember about people, ya know? I wouldn’t mind my grandson keeping those memories at all. They’re special for him; comforting memories.

I thought of a few people I know, and the instant memory that came with them. Wierd. One person, all I saw was the color purple, because that is her favorite color. Everything she owns or wears is purple. Another person, the memory was alcoholism. A whole life I’ve spent with this person, and that was what surfaced. Another person’s memory was his deep insecurity, which he unsuccessfully tries to hide. Why in the world would I think of that in association with that person, I wondered?

Do we choose the things we will remember about a person? Or is it that the prominent memory (what we felt strongest about) will always reign? It makes me wonder what others will remember about me. I know that I cannot choose what another will instantly think of when I’m in their thoughts. For all the love I give to my grandson, he may actually find himself one day at age 40 or whatever, thinking of my long fingernails and hair, and not the love I always gave him. But you know what? That’s okay. I know that he knows I love him. I also know that his fascination with my nails and hair is a comfort zone for him. That’s love, isn’t it? :)

This is kind of a fun memory game, actually. Almost like Word Association. Think of a few different people, and ask yourself what your very first memory/thought is. You may be surprised!