Store Your Happy Memories Here:

[Croix]

Dear All~

What this place is for:
This thread is a tool, a resource, and also I guess a dash of entertainment.

I’ve found that when life is grim that sometimes thoughts of past happiness can create a chink of light in the grey overwhelming press of down. They can help occupy the mind with lighter reflections.

With that in view I invite people to set down a brief passage describing some happy event they look back to with fondness and peace.

They - and others too - can then return to it when they feel the need to glean a little warmth.

It is not a place for gloomy or dire tales, those can go elsewhere.

What to do:
Just set out, as simply as you like, your recollection of some past experience that means something good to you, something you enjoyed, something from safe times.

It can be, like my story below, anything – from an account of visiting grandparents to simply cooking and eating a melted-cheese sandwich in a favorite kitchen – you get to choose.

How to do it:
Write. Write enough so someone else can feel the mood, know what happened, find the goodness. (stop at 2,500 characters please!)

Grammar, syntax, spelling, punctuation are not compulsory, just write as you can – the only important thing is the content - not literary merit. Short or long - it does not matter.


I hope you enjoy, contribute and find a little distraction here when you need it.

Croix

[Sad_Mushroom]

OMG Croix,

Not a memory but a fact. When I was born and before my mum left I was named Louella/Llewellyn. I was named Louella but people later on confused and called me Llewellyn. My dad changed my name and named me after him. People who knew my mum kept calling me Llewellyn though. (or Louella) not even sure how to spell it.

When I was 13yo my dad had a mate with a welsh mountain pony called Nangara Sergeant Pepper. Purebred, bloodline secured and all done and dusted. The problem was no one was small enough to get on him to break him in. Many had tried but they were too heavy and their feet dragged on the ground.

WMP was worth a fortune especially if he was broken. Dad told his mate that I would do it. I did, but it was the nastiest pony I had ever met. I nicknamed him Mr Mean. The fights I had with that WMP were amazing. He was so smart and seemed like he could plan ahead. I had never met a pony like him and still never have.

SM

[Croix]

Dear SM~

I'm not sure The Occupant was mean, just was determined to be 'Boss Hogg'. Plus a nasty sense of humor. Liked nothing better than to trundle along and then but on the brakes with her head down, and watch as I ended up on the ground. Then stand on my foot when I went to remount.

Still we worked out an accommodation of sorts (plus I learned to anticipate and grip properly and not come off:)

Llewellyn was completely different, placid, friendly and amenable, which i suppose you have to be when pulling a cart full of glass bottles every day.

Croix

[monkey_magic]

Push,push....feeling the adrenaline running through my blood. Happy and glad to feel the serotonin in my brain. I look around at all the other gym goers with their big muscles and big veins pushing and pumping and grunting.

Posers in mirror looking at their shape, people peddling, jogging and rowing on the cardio equipment.

The music is inspiring, let's go, go, go....

I am a passenger in the car on the way home. Happy with my increased serotonin I have my arm out the window flapping like a bird. I really do feel like I'm flying....

Until the next workout in the gym.

( my past life)

[Croix]

Dear MM~

If that is your past life I sure hope it returns again quickly, it sounds exactly what you need (and is a pretty good snapshot of the gym too).

Croix

[Quercus]

Hello everyone,

I had to share this one because it made me happy to remember.

Hot and bothered. I am running. The song in the earphones fades. If it is a slow song next it's time to relax and cool down.

The song begins and I smile. I love this song and the memories with it.

I know that the bridges that I've burned along the way

Have left me with these walls and these scars that won't go away

And opening up has always been the hardest thing... Until you came

Heart in my throat.

I remember the rumble of the train on tracks. Rocks underfoot. A maintenance track. And a couple learning to waltz. Practicing. The train passes and the driver waves out the window at the sight.

Two very different expressions. In the first lesson I slipped in heels and almost kneed the instructor in a sensitive spot. Stood on his toes. Struggled with basic instructions. The instructor's expression says for the love of all things holy just forget the dance! But he kneels and takes my shoes off. His expression is equal parts "it's ok lets try again" and "if you want kids try not to knee me in the bits hey?".

I love when you tell me that I'm pretty when I just wake up

And I love how you tease me when I'm moody but it's never too much

I'm falling fast but the truth is I'm not scared at all

You climbed my walls

I remember hazel eyes. And thinking of train tracks. Pretend there is noone here but us. It is just like practice on the train line. Except for the dress which I step on. I panic. He picks me up off the ground until the count starts again. A wink. Noone has to know.

Mum and Sister giggling at my relief at the bar. Nope we didn't notice your slip. But Nat maybe next time remember not to mouth "one two three" for the entire dance hey! I groan embarrassed. You could have told me! He grins cheekily. Yeah but it reminded me of the train line.

[Croix]

Dear Nat~

You really do have a treasury of memories and the happy knack of making good ones out of incidents that might have gone either way.

Thank you for the Lady Antebellum song, it reminded me of a song with the same title by Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons (which you have probably never even heard of:)

I enjoyed listening to that song with my first wife many years ago.

Croix

[Quercus]

Hello Croix,

I love that song! Love love it. And I laughed and laughed when you said I probably wouldn't know Frankie Valli and the four seasons because I grew up with their songs 😂. I had to wait to find the right memory to come to me because I suspect you need a smile and a bit of TLC for yourself lately (you've been replying to a lot of posts and caring a lot for others and I worry you need to save some care for you too). So here goes... My medley of memories inspired by the prompt Frankie Valli...

Nighttime at the old train carriage converted into a little house. A group of men and women and children outside under the stars. The fire sparkles and pops. The radio plays and the music echoes across the valley. 60s music.

Two little girls argue with an equally as small cousin. Why do they have to listen to this rubbish? I like ACDC he grumps. The elder of the two stands her ground hands on hips. Frankie Valli is better. The smaller nods thumb in mouth.

The same little girls. Sitting on the floor playing barbie dolls. The radio plays in the house. They sing along. The elder quizzes the younger... Who sings this one? I don't know. Come on guess! Jerry and the Pacemakers? They giggle. That is her default guess number one. Frankie Valli? More giggles. Default guess number two. She is always wrong.

Little girls under a cassia tree. The yellow blossoms cascade down. It is the most beautiful tree in the world. Parents and sit unwillingly as an audience. The music is loud and they smile and applaud in the right places. The saving grace is the 60s music (that and a cold cold beer).

Older but still as giggly two women sit late at night with Mum. In a house down from the train carriage. Same valley. Same clear dark sky and the crackle of the fire and the sound of the river if you listen closely enough.

The competition is fierce. The laughter is infectious. Got to love YouTube for entertainment. The best of the 60s plays. First to guess the name and singer gets a point. Youngest is failing this round miserably. New song. We'll give you a free guess. No idea. Jerry and the Pacemakers? They all laugh. Try again. Frankie Valli? Well bloody hell it's the right answer!

Footsteps down the hallway and a teddy under her arm. A little girl has woken up. Mummy you are being very noisy she grumps as she is tucked back into bed.

Thank you Croix for reminding me.

[Moonstruck]

Dear Quercus....just a quick note to tell you that I love the way you recall and write your memories.

You do it quite beautifully.....as you know, even though I have no trouble with the written word - I cannot bring myself to write down my happy memories here....as it makes me so sad. Anyway, you probably make up for my lack of contributions........very descriptive and moving.

[Croix]

Dear Nat and Moon (plus anyone else looking over the shoulder)~

The pair of you typify what this thread is all about, Nat you have gift for extracting a fond memory from you past life, and you Moon gain from reading.

You are both necessary - so thank you both

Croix

[Quercus]

Hi Croix and Moonstruck 😊

It always amazes me that more people don't jump in here and share whatever joy they can. If you're reading anyone got a happy memory to share?

Croix I love the idea of us all being needed. You're right though. Moon you might struggle to recall a memory but the fact that you took the time to reply to mine. To validate and compliment. That is equally as lovely as any memory I can dredge up to cheer myself up.

I wonder.. What about a dream? A fantasy? A plan for the future? If looking into the past brings you down maybe it is possible to share a happy memory in planning?

Or closing your eyes and looking within at the current moment and finding one thing that is happy about you right now?

Right now...

The tiles are cold beneath my bare feet. Up and down. Up and down. My heels bounce off the floor to move the rocking chair. The best thing I ever bought myself is this IKEA rocking chair.

The leather is smooth and warm to touch. The bounce and rock is ever so slight and so so very peaceful. Eyes closed. Cool and calm.

A warm body with bony knees climbs up in my lap. Mum I'm still hungry. Eyes open. Blue eyes peering into mine. Time to feed the bottomless munchkins.