Memories That Make You Smile
It can be amazing when you remember the past and all you can do is smile
I’m sitting at my grandson’s tee-ball game, listening to 80s music through my earbuds when John Mellencamp’s voice fills my ears. Suddenly, memories flood over me, taking me back to when I ran away from my addict parents at 16.
With friends, I traveled from Wisconsin to Florida, a journey filled with both fear and excitement. We passed through Tennessee and saw a sign for some caves. Arriving too early, we decided to wait, but the owner had other plans. He came out, shotgun in hand, and forced us to leave.
Another memory surfaces:
Staying with a family by a lake. My friend and I, young and naïve, didn’t think about sunscreen. Being fair-skinned, I got a bit burnt, but my poor friend suffered much worse. She had huge blisters where her butt met her legs, making it impossible for her to lie on her back for days. I felt so bad for her. She was crying so much from all the pain.
I introduced this family to the top 40 hits of the early 90s. They had only ever listened to country music and John Mellencamp. The…
