Reconnecting With The Past

     After giving some consideration to all the observations I have gathered these last four years of writing this blog, reading the feedback (privately or publicly conveyed to me) I can categorically say that there is a huge need for remembrance. Even if it is accomplished via a humble blog about growing up in the suburbs of Jersey in the 1960s and 70s. There is a certain psychological wisdom to remembrance. If you need any more proof just take a look at our calendar and you will see that it is filled with days dedicated to this act. We need this time in order to manage the rest of our lives on a daily basis. If we didn't stop and pause once and a while about events long past then our lives would comprise a series of actions done by rote and likely lacking in style or grace. This all begs another question: Should you try to reconnect with your past when you sometimes simply feel overwhelmed just trying to keep up with your present life? In sports lingo, this would be called a "gimme" in my opinion. The answer is most certainly Yes! Of course, reconnect with times long gone and linger in those memories for as long as it is practical. There is no harm remembering a simpler era, like I do with this blog, or in attempting to reaffirm old friendships via the Internet, US Mail, or a simple phone call out of the blue. What is harmful is not making any attempts. Think about things you regret in life, are they mostly things you did or are they things you wished you had said or done? The answer, if you are like most people, is the latter. So go ahead and try to "Friend" people on FaceBook for example. Or use Google and find out someone's possible mailing address or phone number. This is all easier than you might think. Even if you come across someone who just wants to be left alone, at least in your own mind you know you tried. What's more, you still can reflect upon the pleasant memories you once had of this person. You will be the better for it, this I can guarantee. One more thing, if you can supply one jot of writing (you may ask to remain anonymous) which describes our "moments of glad grace" as Yeats would say, then please send them to me, even in their rawest form. I will attempt to give them some shape and hopefully the result will be of use in furthering someone's recollection of a time well spent.