Again
Perplexed...
But having kids (especially girls) - P's used to it. But here's the story:
Contacted an old pal by email out of the blue. Tracked him down and wanged off a message - nothing elaborate - just "Hello ole mate..." that sort of thing.
Heard nothing for weeks - and then he replied....
....and what a shocker...what a reply!! Oh me Gawd - Bloody-Gobb-smacked I was.
Because instead of saying "Hey me ole mate...long time no-hear...." oh no nothing that prosaic - instead the cheeky bugger said:
I DON'T REMEMBER YOU.
YOU WHAT?
YEA - NOT EVEN THE NAME RANG ANY BELLS.
DUH? YOU HAVING A LAUGH?
P picks himself up of the floor and replies - suggesting a few events to trigger his memory:
1. You remember - we worked in the summer camp teaching drama to students for 6 weeks - every year ?
2. We shared a room? - (for bleedin' heck's sake)
3. P always in trouble - snogging too many girls- nearly got sent home every year?
4. We went to Blackpool together for a day?
REPLY:
"NOPE NO BELLS RINGING"
OH STRIKE ME DOWN!
So P sends another email:
6. P introduced you to your wife? I was with some other bird...nice looking...I even stayed at your wife's parents' house...with you....you.... YOU DICK.
REPLY:
"OH IT'S COMING BACK NOW".
Oh, it's on it's way back? Nice one - starting to come back eh? That's just great...I am so bleedin' grateful.....oh joy.....how bloody impressive.
WELL - TOO BLEEDIN' LATE NOW OLE BUDDIE...TOO LATE...
....IF YOU GOT TO DREDGE P UP FROM THE BOTTOM OF YOUR MEMORY...
...THAT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
So P Club what does this all mean? What lessons can we take from this sad little story?
The obvious one: Perhaps P isn't memorable. We are heroes in our own minds, but to others - just so forgettable.
Mere mist....non-entities.
But this can't be true... P would stick in your mind. BELIEVE ME. P is not easy to forget...He is after all "The Famous Mr Pineapples". So that cannot be it.
So what else? What else explains this vile forgetfulness?
The reason must be this: (and it's shocking):
SOME FOLKS LIVE IN THE PERPETUAL PRESENT.....(like pets)....WITHOUT ANY TRACKER TO THE PAST
But that is so foreign to The P....so alien that is has shaken me all up.
I spend a lot of my life thinking about what has gone before: collecting and organising the past: friends, former girlfriends, things I felt and said, lessons learned - all that sort of krap.
I divide and order my life in blocks of events, of people, places, times, dates. I apportion it into eras and play it back like a video in my head.
The past is always with me - hanging like a worn and easy coat.
I remember so much - but it all adds up to make me what I am. What has gone helps me understand and interpret what is happening now.
Am I normal in that regard? I used to think I was. Aint so sure now. Perhaps I am unique. Perhaps strange and odd?
Come to think of it Mrs P don't live in the past like me - to her - what is past has passed. She thinks I waste my life thinking about what has gone.
Bloody hell - it's been an eye-opener...let me tell you.
As for my ole mate? Forget it.....he's history.
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