Thank you for saying "a picture of my father and me" instead of "a picture of my father and I". I hate when people over-correct and use "I" when it's grammatically incorrect.
I had an ER event with my wife last week, and I knew exactly what you knew here: nothing matters except the fact that I am here, being a one-day-remembered version of myself, and I should act accordingly. ER visits are evidence of who you are, as are many (all) difficult situations.
To me, there's also a comfort in nostalgia. It will always be a part of me, our past. Even that which I thought I'd forgotten. And because it is part of me, I value it—think it important. Maybe without it the world is at risk of not valuing what it needs to be good, I think. Or safe. Or, maybe it is that I worry it is at risk of not valuing me. "Please believe me!"
The past had a lot of good too, I argue. Just because any bad in the past was within sniffing distance of what I value doesn't mean it is also inherently bad. But once a thing is in the mind it is near impossible to take out. So we must dismiss it if it argues against that which we know. We sit in our silos and keep the contagion out. Instead of vaccinating ourselves with the knowledge that we were beautifully made.
On a continued personal note, one of my greatest virtues is my terrible memory. Like a goldfish. So I have an incredible advantage in all this.
Lovely piece
Thank you Luke
Thank you for saying "a picture of my father and me" instead of "a picture of my father and I". I hate when people over-correct and use "I" when it's grammatically incorrect.
I had an ER event with my wife last week, and I knew exactly what you knew here: nothing matters except the fact that I am here, being a one-day-remembered version of myself, and I should act accordingly. ER visits are evidence of who you are, as are many (all) difficult situations.
To me, there's also a comfort in nostalgia. It will always be a part of me, our past. Even that which I thought I'd forgotten. And because it is part of me, I value it—think it important. Maybe without it the world is at risk of not valuing what it needs to be good, I think. Or safe. Or, maybe it is that I worry it is at risk of not valuing me. "Please believe me!"
The past had a lot of good too, I argue. Just because any bad in the past was within sniffing distance of what I value doesn't mean it is also inherently bad. But once a thing is in the mind it is near impossible to take out. So we must dismiss it if it argues against that which we know. We sit in our silos and keep the contagion out. Instead of vaccinating ourselves with the knowledge that we were beautifully made.
On a continued personal note, one of my greatest virtues is my terrible memory. Like a goldfish. So I have an incredible advantage in all this.
This was oblique and piercing. You're a tremendous writer.