Mourning Memories

Mourning Memories 

I know this is a weird topic, but do you ever mourn memories?
For example, yesterday we had our work holiday party. The party consisting of the physical therapy department, occupational health and chiropractic clinic (I work at chiro). Anyway, I work on an Army installation so there was a mix of military and civilian personnel at the party.

It was a really great time. We all met at a restaurant/brewery and just joked, talked, had fun. Lots of my co-workers came with their spouses and young children. Many of the young soldiers (20-30 year olds) came with their young children.  As I watched the young children playing and the parents running after them, memories flooded me which made me happy and sad at the same time.

I remember when I was a young navy corpsman (medical) working at a pediatric unit at a Navy Hospital. I remember many holiday parties where I would bring my young adorable children. I remember chasing them around the floor and making sure they didn’t touch something dangerous or fall. I remember the laughter and the comradery among my navy shipmates and civilian co-workers. I remember the bond that we all formed.

It’s weird at the time, I couldn’t wait to get out of the Navy. I would daydream of the future and all the wonderful possibilities. I couldn’t wait to graduate from college and move away from Virginia. And now…….. Here I am in the future; 10 years into the future. My kids are teenagers now. My co-workers who are my dear friends have moved to different parts of the world. Some got out of the Navy and moved back home for new adventures, some stayed in the Navy and are now in Japan, Italy and so many other places. And some of the civilian nurses are still working on the pediatric floor at the Naval Hospital. A few have passed away. Transitioned from this plane to the next. I miss them dearly. I miss them all. They made such a difference in my life.

So I am mourning memories. Wishing I could have enjoyed those precious moments more. But I also must treasure my current moments because soon the present time will also be a distant memory. A memory that takes you back. A memory that is triggered by scents, a wisp of a cool breeze that tickles your skin in a way that brings you back to your younger self, music that awakens memories of falling in love, events that remind you of old friends.

So, I mourn my memories and cherish them at the same time and realize that the people around me have truly affected my life. It’s all about the people. The people we meet during our journey that allow us to grow. It’s the people that are important.
​
So Cherish those memories but remember to live in the present and enjoy the now because now will soon be a memory.