An Experiment in Memory

Oh man, oh man, oh man. My brief trip to California was so full and fantastic. My camera kind of died while I was in San Francisco and so I didn't get a picture of the VERY picturesque ceremony of Brian and Sara. They stood in the afternoon light against the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge, with Sara's blond hair all gold and Brian's face illuminated. We all cried, we all cheered, we all laughed. They've been together for 8 years and we were all so thrilled!

I also didn't get to take pictures of how TEENY WEENY Kirstin's new baby was or how my little brother Luke has no front teeth and spikes his hair with hair gel. Apparently when you enter the first grade you suddenly become A DUDE.

I wish so much I could have taken pictures of Andromeda sitting on her purple couch with coffee and her son Zephyr cracking up at bubbles being blown at him. I wish I could have taken a picture of my friend Judy in her stunning 40's style dress at the wedding, or my friend Rolly in his velvet blazer. Better yet, I wish I could have taken a picture of Meg singing "Celebrity Skin," while her husband played "guitar" and their housemate played "drums" to the brand new Rock Band video game.

So many things! So many things I wish I could have captured. Without the picture, it becomes an experiment in memory. How can I still hold onto it? How can I relive the pleasure of it? How can I somehow mark it? Long ago, I somehow formed the belief that the memory will be lost forever without the image or the proof, but somewhere these experiences continue without them. I have to trust it, because oh, it was such a good time. I want to continue knowing all of it.