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Stimulating Memories | Memoir Writing

Today, I was gearing up to clean house. This is quite a chore right now since we are also in the midst of packing and moving. But, since I had uncovered some dust and debris while wrapping and packing treasures to take to the new house, I figured now was as good a time as any.

Optimized HappyCleaningWoman 123 m 212x300 Stimulating Memories | Memoir WritingI was alone in the house so I turned the TV to the channel that plays solid gold oldies and set about cleaning. I hummed along at first to tunes I remember my mother playing as she cleaned house while I was growing up. I had flashes of memories of my aunt and my grandmother doing the same thing. It always started out as humming but ended up as a dance and singing fest!

I remembered mom and Auntie cocking their hips up and down to the beat of “Jailhouse Rock”

Folding clothes and singing for all they were worth to “Run Around Sue”

Mamaw holding court in the living room singing her heart out as she played the electric guitar

Christmas Eve and all us kids dancing and singing around the living room — performing as my mom saved it for posterity on her movie camera

Ahhh, yes… the memories…

Soon I realized I was singing at the top of my lungs, jigging and wiggling around the rooms as I dusted. Before I knew it, I was finished dusting — everything. I don’t even really remember dusting — just reliving my memory flashes with the start of each song.

I was smiling too.

These little flashes can turn into essays and the essays, collectively, can turn into a book one day. The next time you are getting ready to do a chore — turn o some old music. It’s great stimuli for the memory banks!

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