At 58, as a fairly new memoirist, I've realized that I functioned in my family as the archivist--looking at photos, asking questions, listening to my mother's and grandmother's stories about Peru, taking photos and videos as an adult, remembering and recording and remembering again. I've used photos as launching points for a few of my memoir-essays, as well as music from my youth--from Pachelbel's Canon to Prince's When Does Cry. Of course the master of the sensory memory trigger is Proust and his famous bite of madeline dipped in tea. Thank you for writing about your process and including those amazing photographs.
LOL...his real name is Carlos. When he was a baby my grandmother's boyfriend Joe said he was as hyper as a percolator. Perky was born. Thankfully I never had a nickname.
At 58, as a fairly new memoirist, I've realized that I functioned in my family as the archivist--looking at photos, asking questions, listening to my mother's and grandmother's stories about Peru, taking photos and videos as an adult, remembering and recording and remembering again. I've used photos as launching points for a few of my memoir-essays, as well as music from my youth--from Pachelbel's Canon to Prince's When Does Cry. Of course the master of the sensory memory trigger is Proust and his famous bite of madeline dipped in tea. Thank you for writing about your process and including those amazing photographs.
Thank you for reading. Often I kick myself for not talking more to my grandma about growing up in Virginia and living as an adult in Pittsburgh.
What a gorgeous read! Beautiful essay. I love the photos and getting a peek into your writing process.
I appreciate that. Thank you.
Thank you.
I’m curious about your brother’s name, Perky. I love it.
LOL...his real name is Carlos. When he was a baby my grandmother's boyfriend Joe said he was as hyper as a percolator. Perky was born. Thankfully I never had a nickname.
Wonderful! I loved reading this and the tip about YouTube for commercials is golden. Thank you.