George

One thing I love about memory is how a song, an aroma, or simply something that’s been said can awaken a memory from where it rests and pop it in my head… Our family noticed them on a walk…a young couple with their retriever…golden brown we were walking up a hill while they were walking down. As I stopped to pet their golden and we began to talk I suddenly thought of Whitman, our golden, and how he loved to walk. I scratched George, their golden, behind his ears…a tail wagging ensued and I remembered how, when I scratched Whitman there…his tail would wag too. I wondered why they named him George…and in my reverie I remember how we named our Whitman after a bakery… As I continued petting for a moment…right there and right then It was as if I was petting Whitman and he was alive again. Before they walked away I thanked the couple for sharing George with me and I whispered into George’s ear…”Thanks for the memory”. I watched them continue down the hill feeling glad that we had met and I smiled because my memories of Whitman hadn’t finished yet. Once his memories faded away…and returned to where they rest I caught up to my family…feeling lucky…feeling blessed. And in awe of how once they’re awakened… even for a little while memories can seem so real… memories can make you smile