the corner office : The other side

The other side

That wasn't so bad. Christmas is done and over for the year. Rereading my previous post I feel a bit guilty about my family in moderation quip, but rather than quietly edit it away, I'll just mention that it was a little tongue in cheek and that I actually did and usually do enjoy getting to see everyone in da family (so if you fall into the 'family' category please don't take offense, and if you're not, please don't think me a heartless bastard. I'm not that heartless).

I got some luvverly pressies and my gifts were all well-received (ostensibly, at least). Food was great. So all is right with the world.

Had a quiet weekend, spent mostly in Westville. Ronwen and my mom and I took my gran back up to Pietermaritzburg on Saturday. I'm a nostalgic person by nature and every time I go back to 'Maritzburg, I find myself very strongly overwhelmed with childhood memories, of living there for a short while as a child, and regular visits to my grandparents. So many places have changed, but many have stayed the same. The hardest part is reminiscing about old times, places, events, memories. They're largely 'had to be there' things. Even if it's a loved one who's having a memory foisted upon them, and they're extremely polite, you know from when the tables are turned that nobody really gets excited (and rightly so) about seeing the park you regularly played in, or seeing and hearing about the balcony of the flat your grandparents stayed in. We all have our own parks and balconies that are special to us. These memories are locked away in solitary cupboards, and perhaps shared occasionally with family and people who were there.

Nostalgia. Sad because we miss the 'good times' that we probably didn't even think of or appreciate as 'good times' when we were living them. From that perspective, it's a bit silly. But it's kinda like tax, I suppose. You don't particularly like the melancholy that comes from the memories, but you're glad you had the good fortune to have had the experiences that afforded you those memories in the first place.

{2003.12.28 19:53}

Comments:

1. sandy (2003.12.30 - 10:03) #

I've got those same balcony and park memories, and I inflict them upon Gary in the same manner....every time! And he just smiles and nods and pretends to be interested. Bless.

My fondest memory of the balcony at Christmas time, was sitting on the strange box thing in the corner (that had a plastic and foam cushion to sit on - never did find out what Grandpa kept in the box), staring out over the thousands of twinkly lights of the city and wondering how far Father Christmas was (straining to see if I could see his sleigh), getting really impatient, reckoning he was running late and would never make it to Scottsville before the morning. But he always pulled through, such a trustworthy fella, he was!

2. Colin (2003.12.31 - 11:36) #

By then I knew Father Christmas was a Great Big Lie, although I wasn't allowed to say anything to you. When I Still Believed, my Father Christmas memories were making sure mom left biscuits and milk each Christmas Eve before going to bed, and waking up in the morning to find only crumbs. That was all the evidence I needed! :)

But I also remember the twinkly lights in PMB...