12 Comments
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Clarice Dankers's avatar

What lovely, amazing, detailed memories, Allan! I don't think I remember much of my youth at all--except for my twenties in Afghanistan.

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Allan Sutherland's avatar

Thanks Clarice - I find the detail comes back when I start writing. It's intriguing.

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Ali Rowland's avatar

Lovely to hear about your inspiration, and very glad the X18 experience had a happy ending!

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Allan Sutherland's avatar

Thanks Ali - let's hope all X18s have happy endings and then, of course, there's the X20 to be considered!

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Pip Hardy's avatar

Such beautiful writing about such ordinary and extraordinary memories - thank you, as always!

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Allan Sutherland's avatar

Thanks so much Pip. I'm really pleased you enjoy them.

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Gary's avatar

With age does the memory shine brighter.

How much more colourful is the memory than the reality of the time. Or, are you seeing with the same palette?

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Allan Sutherland's avatar

Fascinating questions Gary. James Joyce says somewhere 'imagination is memory' and I wonder if 'memory is imagination' might also be true? Perhaps it's the imagination that changes the palette?

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Gary's avatar

I know that as I age, the long past has become someone else's life. The mid past has grown rosie. The recent past is...well, too recent

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Allan Sutherland's avatar

I know what you mean about the long past seeming like it happened to someone else. However, the more I'm reflecting on things, I'm unexpectedly encountering my younger self.

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Gary's avatar

That is interesting because I don't recognize the young boy or is it that I don't want to recognize him

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Allan Sutherland's avatar

I know what you mean, although the more I encounter my younger self the more kindly disposed I am towards him.

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