Photos Help My Lame Memory

The Northern Lights. You’ve heard of them, right? I saw them once in northern Wisconsin with my mom. We were driving in the middle of the night, and she woke me up to see them. I was young (maybe 11 or 12), and didn’t really understand the significance at the time; plus I was a bit groggy, so I don’t know if my response was up to her expectations, but I remember the moment.

This is a goofy picture of my kids at Mount Rainier. It helps me remember the day – the weather, how old they were, what their complaints were, how long we spent in the car, who was with us, etc. It’s more than just a moment frozen in time. It’s an entire memory of an important experience, packed neatly into a visual package.

My husband says I also saw the Northern Lights in Illinois. With him. This would have been several years after the time with my mom, and sadly, I don’t remember it. How is it possible that I could forget something that is so unique and special?

I wonder if perhaps my brain weaved the two times together. Maybe I recall the story around it with my mom, but the actual images of the sky that I see with my mind’s eye are from the experience with my husband. I wish I knew. I wish I could sort it out, but it’s too late. It’s a moment that’s gone, and all I can do is wonder, maybe shed a tear, and hope for an amazing new experience to come my way.

This isn’t the only time something like this has happened. Over the years, I’ve noticed that the experiences I remember most clearly are often things that have pictures attached. I remember particular days because somebody was there with a camera. The visual reminder allows the stories that surrounded the moment to re-emerge and etch themselves deeper into my memory. It’s as if the photo is a study tool, or an instant re-play. It’s easier to remember information that has been repeated, and the images let me repeat my experience after it is over.

Because of this, I try to remind myself to bring my camera (either my “good” one or my phone – either is fine in many cases) whenever I’m headed somewhere I want to remember. Sometimes I line up a photographer to be there to create the images for me so I can stay involved in a moment. I’m so glad to have photographs of people, places, and experiences that are special to me. It’s not fun to forget things – especially when they feel important. Pictures help me remember moments my life when I can’t count on my memory to do the work for me. I treasure them for that.

What pictures do you have that represent important memories to you?