South Florida
Moot Point
Pops of memory often pop the pages of my work.
Flashbulb memories stick with us. Instant recall of emotional events - where we were, who we were with, what we were doing when the event occurred and how we processed the aftermath.
Emotionally traumatic events are most associated with flashbulb memories. This September 11, those of us going about business as usual back in 2001, will instantly recall the where, who, what, when and how of that tragic day.
Yet the emotional intensity of a moment can also prove a positive nail-biter. The Apollo 11 moon landing glued people to scratchy black and white television screens to witness Neil Armstrong take the first step on the moon July 20, 1969. Myself, the self-proclaimed space girl, along with my brother watched the most famous launch ever from my grandparents’ Sea Gate apartment in Brooklyn, New York. I can still hear the crinkle of the plastic slipcovers on the floral couch. Heavy sigh.
I’m one of those people who grew up paying attention. I wanted to remember moments, the majority very typical everyday events. Sitting out in the sun before heading to work at my part-time job. The part-time job. The friends I met after quitting that job. The friends who I’d never have known if the Apollo space program hadn’t gone bust, moving us to South Florida in my senior year of high school.
One of those friends passed away late spring. Sharon. This girl, this girl- along with a few others - saved me. We made memories I will always and forever remember.
Life gets real after college. Sadly, unreal for Sharon. Over the years, she suffered -twice - loss no parent should ever endure. And her husband, she lost him, too. After such pain, there’s no going back, no getting nostalgic with your old friends. The before is erased, the future unthinkable. The day to day is one more day without.
Sharon popped into my writing back in 2023.
Homecoming, a micro included as part of a flash suite was published by Moot Point, January 11, 2023 here.
The beauty of writing a memory is the change-up. As a writer, I felt readers might find a high school prom held at the Playboy Plaza on Miami Beach a tad unbelievable. As true as the location was, the prom became an exotic homecoming dance. The beach and the flair made the final cut.
For Sharon.
Homecoming
We lean into each other dumb happy cheap wine tipsy. Our gowns are fire, yours red sequined, mine beach sand vanilla. Humidity suits you, your hair sleek smooth Venezuelan; mine wild waves. You rock a top hat. Ray-Bans dangle my lips. The lenses catch the camera flash. A double full moon.
Thank you for reading.
