Adjusting reality

Take a look at the picture to the left. My friend "Johnny" adjusted reality for me by dropping out the background and "correcting" the color balance. If you compare this with the previous pictures appearing in my messages, you can definitely tell the difference. It is not a real picture (because of the changes) but it is better--at least Johnny thinks so. What do you think?

How often do we adjust reality in our memory? I heard about some whipper snapper complaining to his grandfather that grand dad lived in the "good old days" and he wished he lived back then. Grand father then reminded him that in the "good old days" the bathroom was 100 feet from the house and it was freezing cold to traverse that 100 feet in the winter. In the summer, the flies around that out house were thick and biting, and the outhouse had a horrible smell of .... (you know what.) So much for the "good old days. But how many of us forget the bad times, or in our memory adjust reality just a little bit?

I remember I used to run 3 miles almost every day. What I am trying to forget was how unsure I was of myself in those days. I was outwardly bold and brave, but inwardly quite shy--especially around beautiful women. I was not able to believe that ladies would enjoy me just because I am so very cool. I no longer run 3 miles a day. I wish I could, but I never want to return to that age where I was so unsure of myself.

A lot of people seem to pine for the good old days, but I'll just bet if they could really remember the "good old days" they would not seem quite so good!! It is just a case of adjusting reality. We all tend to do it.

A camping trip was wonderful--we forget all the hiking and mosquitoes involved! A party we went to was terrific--we have forgotten that we stayed up too late and were miserable the next day. Our previous job was better--we tend to forget the long hours and nagging boss. So we adjust our reality as we go along.

Happy reality,
David A. Youngs

Remembering my memory

I used to have a memory. Oh I still do, but some times I can't remember what I did with it. :-) Actually, I have been blessed with a very good memory. I remember the names of thousands of people. Sometimes I even remember their names when I see them and need to remember their name! But sometimes I know I know their name, but cannot seem to recall it. Maybe I need a memory upgrade. Science is working on memory related medications. Maybe some day I can just take a pill and remember everything! Wouldn't that be great?

I take care of an elderly person. Okay, she is OLD--91 years old. And she can remember only things that happened a while ago. Her short term memory is basically gone. She can eat a meal, and then half an hour later, not be sure whether she ate or not. She has a creative memory. She can make up something in her mind, and then "remember" as if it did happen. This blurring of reality can cause some real problems. She will accuse me of doing something she simply made up, and I have a difficult time convincing her it never happened, because she "remembers" it clearly--even though it never happened.

It is kind of eerie seeing this lady actually living what the film Total Recall suggested--implanted memories. Wouldn't it be great to actually be able to get memories implanted? Or maybe not--my reality is tenous enough as it is. I don't think I want to be able to clearly remember things that never really happened.

But I am not sure that I want total recall either--there are some things I would prefer not to remember. Maybe God knew what he was doing when he made faulty memories.

Happy memories,

David A. Youngs