MEMEHUNTER

Banging around my head.

The question of the day is: how long ago does something have to be before it can make you nostalgic?

I am beset on three sides by images.

The first two are photographs:

1. I'm standing with three other people, wearing a towel around my waist. Behind my shoulders; the horizon, the sea, the wave, the surf, the beach make horizontal lines, lineup style. We are measured against eachother by the backdrop. We look pleased. We look proud. A few moments ago, we were swimming, and the sea forced air out of our lungs. Now we hold/wear/hold/clutch towels to ourselves. Shortly we will realise how cold we are, but for now we stand and smile. No one is behind the camera. It is later than we imagine, but the sun still shines. The sea was cold. We are exhillarated. Andy, me, Helena, Rachel. It is three weeks ago.

2. More lines, but closed in this time. Blackboard, counter, two levels of bar, the light is different. This time I'm kneeling, although again in a group of four. Another man kneels next to me, his name is Pete. Behind him is Greg. Behind me, Heather. Around us, there is a bar, pints dot the scene. It is two and a half years ago. I have more hair and have sideburns but no beard. We are smiling. Our shop closed so we got drunk. There are cocktails and liqueur coffee available. There are crisps three levels behind my shoulder. Heather needs a drink. I have no idea who took this photograph, but I remember the occasion.

The third is a dream:

3. A dark haired man who represents everyone I know whose name is Simon. A classroom. Ancient insecurities surface and an old headmaster makes his presence felt. My mind screams prepschool at me, and I have no idea why. You don't know these people and I cannot name them. Time is meaningless.

Three images (or sets of images) from my past.

How long ago do things have to be before you can become nostalgic?

Rephrased: does anyone else find themselves missing their recent past more than their distant history?

posted by Memehunter @ 12:44 AM