Random Access Memory
I have always liked the idea of RAM. It’s a computer thing, some particular type of storage. (RAM = Random Access Memory.) I don’t know what this means, not exactly, but I’m charmed by the idea of randomly accessing my memories.
Like many of us, I’ve abandoned photo albums since the advent of the camera phone. I don’t even print my photos out. There’s no writing a madcap note on the back (“Wanda & Me At The Beach with Lobster Boy!”) to remind myself who, what, where or when. No, when I scroll through my pictures these days, I’m lucky if I can remember what the photo is of, let alone why I took it.
All I have is the photo itself, a random image of a moment in time that leaves me wondering why I recorded it.
I actually enjoy this little game. I call it, “Now what do you suppose THIS is?”
Sometimes it’s easy. The first photo, for example, was my favorite meal at the state fair this summer: Pretzel curds, blarney fries & a good Irish beer.
I picked up photo #2 at the 4H building (also at the fair), proof of a fabulous fact that some kid picked up while doing research on…I don’t even know. Pole vaulting? Transportation in the middle ages? The origin of Olympic sports? I have no idea. But I know a bit more about the origins of pole vaulting now, & am kind of sad that we’re moved on to cars & bikes & buses & such.
#3 is obviously a guinea pig’s 2nd birthday party. There were treats involved made out of sunflower seeds & peanut butter. The party hat was homemade. Of course.
#4, however, still puzzles me. This is a sculpture I saw at an outdoor art park that was chock-full of weird stuff. Seriously weird stuff. But this…I want to call it a deer mobile?…took the cake. I can’t imagine what the artist’s intent was. All I can tell you for sure is that it scared the crap out of my sister’s dog.
#5, though? #5 I remember. I don’t recall what it was actually called, but my sister (seen smiling here) & I rechristened it “The A-hole” because it’s obviously a big hole with the capital letter A inside it. And once you see that, you’ll never un-see it. It’s the A-hole forever. Because we’re mature like that.
How about you? Is your phone your photo album these days? Or do you still print your pictures & put them in albums? How do you organize your memories?
