Memories

My "morning ritual" are reserved for my daily exercises in keeping my sanity check. In that period and space, my mind wanders to thoughts that remind me of things. I either think of how my day will go about, what is happening in my life and the part I like the most, memories that comes by.

I was blessed or probably for some, cursed with a very good recollection. It is as if my mind is like a databank wherein piles and piles and piles of information is stored. My earliest recollection dates back to the time that I was almost three years old. With those memories comes the good and the bad as well.

But memories are something that keeps everyone of us feel alive. It may be triggered by a sight or sound or smell in our surrounding. My favorite memory triggers are those that takes me back to that specific experience and feeling as if I am going through it again, sight, sound and smell of everything that left a permanent mark in me.

Those good memories are what keep me going on. When it rains and I smell that faint musky scent it leaves, I am reminded of my curiosity as a child in finding elfs underneath the mushroom plants that suddenly appeared in our lawn. When I hear and see some thunder and lightning, I am reminded of the time that I considered my father an intellect in explaning to me that God is just bowling with his friends in heaven. When I hear Mang Eric call out for taho in our street, I am reminded of the endless summer days of my childhood playing on the streets with my friends. Malate and all the sensory experience it offers reminds me of my angst ridden young adult life and a bowl of piping hot sinigang na bangus sa bayabas would always remind me of my Lola.

Always.

If you may ask, how about the bad memories I have. I decided to put them in a box, sealed them tightly and put at the farthest end of the cupboard, so not even I can ever reach it. I have come to realize that bad memories can be locked away forever if you want too. It is though but very doable.

After all, who needs a bad memory when we can always make beautiful new ones everyday.