11.22.2010

Lost Memory

Tonight, I was driving in the rain...and I started thinking about umbrellas.  I know I must have had an umbrella in college. But for the life of me, I can not remember what it looked like. Was it red? Or green? Or blue.  Probably it was a small collaspeable umbrella.  But why can't I recall what it looked like or when I might have even used it.  I didn't have a car so for four years, I walked. And I walked a LOT! haha. 

Earlier today as it was raining, I was remembering how November was the rainy season in Oxford, Ohio. There was always a lot of rain in November. So...when why wouldn't I remember my umbrella.

So tonight, after a few minutes of consternation, I did recall that as freshmen, we left our umbrellas in the hallway of our dorm, just outside our bedroom doors.  I can remember open umbrellas drying in the hall on either side as I walked to my room. But I can not remember what color umbrella I owned. 

Odd...and unsettling.  I can remember backpacks and coats.  Art cases and pencil holders. Dressers and couches. Benches and paths and the way the sky always looked in September.  But why not that umbrella?

I can remember when I was walking past the cafeteria my sophomore year...and a cloud burst broke. I was completely and utterly drenched.  Within seconds!  So wet to the bone, I had to turn around and go back to my suite to change before going out again.  And I remember walking back from a football game my freshman year...without an umbrella and getting completely wet. Of course, I was wearing a white tshirt...so that must have been charming. haha.

I'm going to chalk up the "non remembering" as being at an age (back then) when so many other things were more important to be remembered.    And look forward for a time when I have a perfect rememberance of all things. 

But, I think for now, I'm also going to guess that I had a dark blue umbrella.  With a faux wooden handle. And a button knob.  It's all in the details.  Maybe I found that memory...

5 comments:

Great Grandma Lin said...

maybe you didn't have an umbrella. I had a plastic bonnet that folded up small in my purse to wear in case of rare rain in Utah...

Lynn McAuley said...

My favorite umbrella is impossible to forget! It was a huge Mary Engelbreit covered with cherries. Sadly after many years of faithful service, it lost a spine and had to be tossed. I miss it greatly.

Now I use a giant rainbow umbrella so it still stands out in a crowd!

Starla said...

I call it Mommy Mush Brain. Details of the exact race route in '93 just don't matter when I need to use brain space to remember what time practice was changed too, what "holiday" tournament DH has to coach and my holiday to do list.

I REFUSE to think it is my age. HAHAA...but that is just denial

Tammy said...

As long as you remember where you put the kids, nothing else matters!

Susan said...

black...it was large and black