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Story Ideas from Vivid Memories
By Deb Gallardo
There are some memories that are so vivid, so real to us, that they seem to be etched in stone. When we call them to mind, it is almost as if we are reliving those moments. A few such times in my life stand out. One of them I’ll relate to you here, to give you a living example. Such memories, if we close our eyes and tune in to all our senses, provide a wealth of sensory detail for the next fiction project or the next blog article. Here’s my story:
It was a beautiful, clear night. The moon was bright and lighting the landscape with such clarity that for a time I turned off my headlights and drove by moonlight. The radio was playing quietly in the background, a Top-40 pop station out of Cleveland. I was mostly ignoring it.
And then “the song” came on and I nearly drove off the road.
Roberta Flack’s golden voice pierced my heart as I heard for the very first time her hit single “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.” She seemed to sing right into my heart. The words pierced my being, the melody haunted me for days until I purchased a copy of the record (oh, yes, this was long before anyone had ever heard of CDs.)
I’ve never forgotten that night or Roberta Flack’s song. If you’ve never heard it, you need to. It’s classic. Here it is on YouTube: Roberta Flack Sings “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” It might even inspire you to start writing. Close your eyes and let it speak to your own heart, and hear what I did that moonlit night in 1972. When you’re done. Come back here and finish this article. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
If you have a vivid memory of any experience, capture it in words, including as much sensory detail as you conjure up. I guarantee that, if nothing else, it will take you back to that place and time for a little while. Once you have committed the memory into words, it will be even more a part of you. Such moments are gifts to us as writers. Cherish them, nurture them, relive them, and SHARE them.
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2 Comments »
April 4th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
You are right, Deb. We need to “Cherish them, nurture them, relive them, and SHARE them.” I’m hoping people will share their grandma stories on my site. Thank you for sharing this story. I wish you the very very best!
Sharon´s last blog post..Who Stole The Bathtub?
April 16th, 2009 at 9:28 am
Sharon, thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Your site sounds interesting.
Again, thank you for commenting.
Deb Gallardo