Currently the thinking in Cognitive Psychology is that memories are not stored but are recreated. Each time we “Remember” an event, our mind recreates the memory from bits and pieces of things that we associate with the event. The impact of this process is that there is great latitude in the accuracy of what we believe happened in our pasts. My spouse Karen and I often have totally different recalls of what happened at a given event. Interviews with people who were on the “grassy knoll” at the time of JFK’s assassination show that their memories six weeks later had changed quite a bit. From not seeing anything or hearing anything to suddenly remembering someone shooting or running and puffs of smoke appearing in the air.
Christmas is a wonderful time that serves as a catalyst for bringing up old memories. Memories of days gone by with relatives. Memories of cooking at Christmas or holidays with our mother. Memories around the holiday dinner table. Memories of gift shopping and gift giving. Memories of decorating the house. Memories of trees, lights and angels.
Many of our memories are poignant. Some memories bring sadness as we remember the “Good” old days. Most memories bring joy as we relive in our minds the love and happiness that we once shared with long-gone friends and relatives. We conjure up pictures of a past that we paint with vivid colors, dramatic actions and a dream filled choreography which may or may not bear much resemblance to the actual event. It doesn’t matter though. We are not trying to sell it. At worst, we want to share it with others and share with them the memories that they have.
I sit here thinking of some Holiday memories. Some less related to the holidays and more or less related to the “good old” days. I am not sure if they are real, but I tell myself that they are. Here are a few that come to mind:
- 18 cent a gallon gasoline
- 25 cent movies
- 15 cent popcorn
- 10 cent bus rides
- Ferris wheel rides at Coney Island
- Swimming with my sisters at Lake Ronkonkoma
- Walking by myself when I was only 7 to PS 171 school in Brooklyn
- Propelling myself down a Brooklyn street on a scooter made with a wooden box and old roller skate wheels
- Carrying groceries in my little red wagon for people from the store to their Apt. for 10 cents
- Visiting with my cousin Louis
- Dreaming that someday I would be an astronaut
- Deciding if I really wanted to be an astronaut or maybe a world-famous archaeologist
- Wishing that I had my own set of encyclopedias
- Midnight mass on Christmas eve
- Wondering if I would get a bicycle for Christmas when I was seven years old
To paraphrase the famous song from The Sound of Music, these are a few of my favorite memories.
Bows on gift boxes and dreams of new toys,
Shiny new building blocks and Lincoln log homes.
A bicycle with three speeds that was meant mostly for boys,
Trains that ran on 1/64 scale tracks, some with a cute little dome.
These are a few of my favorite Christmas memories.
I hope this holiday season brings joy, peace and prosperity to you and your loved ones. I would love to hear from you what your favorite memories are. Please use the comment section to post as many as you like.
I will post our annual holiday letter next Monday.
Aging Capriciously 
Dec 15, 2024 @ 08:48:58
Great post John – I had a bicycle with 3 speeds 🙂
A few fond memories of my own that instantly come to mind:
– Boxing Day family get togethers at Grandmas when I was a child.
– As an 18 year old eager political activist when I thought I could make a difference!
– Wrapping Xmas presents after midnight when our small children had at last gone to sleep!
– Holidays, especially in Italy in the ‘80’s and a round the world trip in the 90’s.
– The joyous legacy left by good, solid friends who, very sadly but not surprisingly, as we age are gradually diminishing.
All best wishes for the season to you and Karen 🎄
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 09:02:18
Some great memories there Margaret. Happy Holidays to you and your loved ones. John
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 09:14:18
I had a lady psychiatrist on the stand once, and I was cross examining her on how things are remembered in the brain because the defendant who had called her as an expert witness was trying to attack the credibility of my eyewitness victim’s recollection of what had happened to her. I was asking her about things that are remembered best and most accurately. She listed things that are the first of a kind or different from anything else that had ever been experienced. “Like a first kiss?” I asked. “Yes,” she answered, “like a first kiss,” blushing slightly as she remembered her own.
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 09:23:10
Cute story. Thanks for posting Majik. I hope the holiday season brings you many great memories.
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 10:53:50
Same to you and your Karen, John!
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 10:34:15
Keep making those memories, John. Merry Christmas! 😊🎄
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 10:43:22
Merry Christmas to You and your Family Jane.
I hope the New Year is good to you and things go the right way in Canada for you.
But you did not add any memories?
John
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 12:42:10
Thanks, John. I’m not entirely sure what you mean about “go the right way”, but I’m sure as heck not planning to cross our southern border … ever again. How sad that I feel that way. Wrt Christmas memories, my childhood ones are pretty standard/classic. Thinking about our grandkids at Christmas is more fun! 😊
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Dec 15, 2024 @ 21:43:28
HI Jane, I meant that I hope your political system does not get too much negative affect from Trump and his cronies. I do not think he will do much good for the world economy as a whole. He is worse than the proverbial bull in a China shop. More like an elephant. Enjoy the Christmas holidays and time with your family and grandchildren., Merry Christmas John
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Dec 16, 2024 @ 06:59:54
Aha. I’d say our economic system is in for a bumpier ride than our political system. But so is the U.S.’s economic system. Those self-interested billionaires now lined up to run the country will get richer and richer, everyone will get poorer and poorer, corruption will run (even more) rampant, and the great experiment called the USA will have run its course. I think you’re being very kind in your description of your incoming president! 🙏 Merry Christmas, John. 🎄
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Dec 16, 2024 @ 13:38:24
Jane, Many of the twenty or so blogs I wrote about the man are anything but kind. I think I must be on his hit list. I agree with what you said. Hate to think the American Experiment is over but it surely is. Killed by rampant greed fostered by a Corporate Capitalistic system that thrives on ever bigger and bigger profits. Anyway. I am off my rants for awhile but will get back to some after the New Year. John
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Dec 16, 2024 @ 16:02:28
A friend of mine asked me to post her memories. They are below:
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