Your Stuff, my stuff, and all the stuff we have had….

So I was recently in the Pacific Centre, a shopping mall here in Vancouver that has a number of stores…and usually too many people. I found myself standing outside a small news stand waiting for Dwight to check our lotto tickets and come back to tell me we were now multi millionaires.

Having had just purchased some Channel perfume I was basking in my wonderful new scent when I realized I was starring at a Zippo lighter sales rack, not sure if you knows these lighters but they usually have a variety of interesting designs…..I thought to myself…..I used to have one of those…a nice one too…. and I was sure I remembered buying Dwight one at some point…..and then the thought came….. could I even begin to remember all of the stuff I have owned? From lighters to cloths, from shoes to bags, dishes…pots…glasses…Jewellery - the list goes on!

The answer must be no….you can not possibly recall every item that you have ever owned, and so while I was admiring the devil skull design that seems to be popular with Zippo's these days I questioned what was it that I remembered? Was it the item or was it the memory I attached to it? Are all of our memories  able to be associated with an object that was a catalyst for the experience we are recalling?

Take my first trip to Paris…I have many fond memories but one it particular is of taking a river boat down the Seine and wearing a little black dress, a satin number, very nice actually! Or one of my first dates with Dwight…..and me spending time rationalizing the need for me to use jumper cables to connect batteries in my car to keep it going……

So if there are objects that help us link our memories to our experiences? Does this mean we have to keep them? As if by throwing them away we no longer have the memory….. if you are sentimental then you probably have basements and closets filled with items that remind you of moments….. a first kiss, getting married, the first time you met your lover. And what about people… we have photo's, we have charms, and we give personal gifts to make sure we are not forgotten and destroy them when we want to forget them!

And what of those in the world that use experiences alone to burn moments into their mind. Experiences that they can share with detail and passion from the memories they have created. Funny thing is that as I grow older I seem to want less stuff and more experiences…..I can only hope I have the faculties to keep all those memories……….

So we did not win the 50 million lotto max (my apologies to my family and friends) Dwight returned from the darkened corner with more tickets in hand, giving us the hope that wether its stuff we decide to buy or experiences choose to create - we would have the option either way!

Till next time…..happy chatting….