Thursday, January 3, 2008

Time Travel

The Bag Lady was lying in bed last night, sleepless again, and got to thinking about the time she moved from a small central Alberta city back home to where she grew up. It occurred to her that she could remember none of the details about the move. In fact, she drew a total blank about who helped her, vehicles used, and even the time of year it was! And it has only been twenty years!
What does this mean? (It means, for one thing, that she is going to have to ask her sister if she remembers!) But it also means she must be getting older. How on earth could she forget something like that? Seriously, she had enough furniture that it would have meant two trips, or a very full pick-up truck load. But she remembers nothing of that. She does remember some of the smaller details.
She lived in a one-bedroom apartment on the ground floor of a 3-story building. Her apartment was right beside the main entrance doors and had a large sliding glass balcony door that gave out onto a small patio, which in turn gave out onto the lawn.
When her drapes were open, she could see everyone coming and going into the building, and they could see her. No lounging around, naked, on her couch. (Not that she would, anyway, but you know what she means!) Being of a shy nature, this bothered her immensely, so she bought some of that one-way film that you apply to windows to block the sun (the windows also faced west, which made the apartment very warm when the sun was setting). The film was advertised as very easy to put up AND to take down. Ha.

When the Bag Lady moved, the manager of the apartment building insisted the film had to be removed, so the Bag Lady got out the directions and started applying water. She scraped and soaked and soaked and scraped for what seemed like forever. She definitely remembers THAT. She thinks they have since improved that film and made it easier to remove.
She remembers cleaning that tiny apartment to the meticulous standards required by the manager. It was a very well-kept apartment building, and the Bag Lady wanted her damage deposit back! She got it, too.
But moving? Nothing. Nada. Gone. She used to pride herself on her memory, but is starting to worry that there’s nothing to be that proud of!
What about you? How’s your memory these days? Can you remember events going back 20 years?

7 comments:

Leah J. Utas said...

Does it make you feel better to know it was 23 years ago? Probably not, huh?
You moved from said city in February (I think, coulda been March) of 1985. Can't say as I remember who helped other than I know it wasn't me.

I have a pretty good long-term memory and always did. Today it's not as good as it was although events going back two or more decades are way clearer than anything I did yesterday, earlier today, or when I walked into the room a moment ago.

the Bag Lady said...

DfLeah - was it, really? The Bag Lady used to brag about her long-term memory, too, but lately...
You moved right around that same time, too, didn't you? Or shortly thereafter...or just before...

Leah J. Utas said...

dfBagLady - I moved to a town near the city in question in August of 1984 and remained there until May of 1987.
Not sure if my comment was anywhere near the help it was meant to be...

the Bag Lady said...

Of course it was, but the Bag Lady still can't remember who helped her move. Must have been the folks. HAD to be. Who else? Sheesh, the harder I try to remember, the further away the memory gets!

Hilary said...

I can't even remember how I got to your blog..

Actually not true. I'm one of those annoying people who remembers almost everything... as long as it meant something to me for one reason or another... from subtle to major details. I have my own built-in Google.

It'll come back to you.. maybe it was friends, or maybe you hired the mover to do it all?

Reb said...

Well, I won't be of any help, sorry. I was in PR and was probably working as I don't recall helping with the move. Does U-Haul ring any bells? I am sure the folks would have helped. I do remember the apartment and the film on the windows.

the Bag Lady said...

My goodness. It's just one of those things. The Bag Lady will suddenly slap herself on the forehead and go "Of course! It was..." But for now, that little spot is blank.
Hilary, the Bag Lady used to be like that, too. She can remember details from when she was 3 and 4 years old, and used to be much better at remembering things than she is lately. Must be too much stuffed into her head.