You remember 

it differently! 

Does it matter?

Sometimes you may not remember things from your past the same way someone else does. But it may not really matter anyway!

Except: what if they don’t even know you anymore? So maybe you just laugh and enjoy the moment you are having now.

It could be embarrassing! 

I recently was in contact with a fellow I knew back in elementary school... over 60 years ago.

I recall we “liked” each other back in 5th or 6th grade.

The reason I was looking him up now was because he was the editor of a newspaper in a large city where I found a story I thought was important and he would be interested in.

I “Googled” his name and found out that he had been quite “busy” in the past years. His Facebook page explained he was: “Married 30 years to my fourth wife.”

Four wives?

But would he remember me?

I emailed him at his newspaper. I didn’t explain who I was ... in case he didn’t remember me.

I wrote: I thought you and your readers would be interested in this project... etc. And I signed it: Bye for now, Rosie Hertzer Schluter. (Yes, my maiden name would be the one he might remember.)

The editor replied: “Please keep us informed on this story as it develops. Are you the Rosemary Hertzer that graduated from Roosevelt in 1956?”

I replied: “Yes. I also went to John Ericsson Grade School.”

He responded: “I didn't know you were in the City. I heard you were upstate somewhere. Best Wishes, Ed”.

I replied: "I'm a little south of the Cities. Cannon Falls. I still know you as 'Eddie'!”

He responded: “... and I still know you as Rosemary Hertzer who lived on 27th Avenue near the corner of 43rd Street.”

I replied: “You’re right about the address -BUT I’m not Rosemary... I’m Rosemarie!” (I recall that Rosemary was another little girl who was probably a nice kid but not one of my friends.)

We continued… 

So... it looked like he remembered me and in his next email he wrote: “I'm in Hawaii from October through April. But it would be lovely to have lunch sometime this summer if you're up in the City.”

I replied: “Hawaii? You are a wimp!”

He responded: “Yes, ‘wimp’--I'll admit it. Can't take the winters. But still love Minnesota--mostly in memory and reflection.”

He continued that he did recall me -and my name Rosemarie. Then he added: “The first girl I ever kissed. When we were about six.”

Well, he did remember! 

And so did I.