Life Stuff – Brenna Vancheyson

Microstory: The old house was filled with things that reminded them of themselves, of each other...even if these things were just in the background.}

We’re living in a time when retro and nostalgia are in style more than any other past era. So what things do we tend to remember? We obviously remember the big things…the big events, things that changed our lives, the milestones.

But there are also things in our minds that are hidden — things that are not linked to any big milestone, but when we see them in a photo or suddenly hear them mentioned, we get a more vivid recollection of the feelings of a particular time in the past than the polished memories of the big events always at the front of our minds.

How is it that these little things in the background sometimes live so strongly in our heads? They didn’t seem “important” at the time — but they were powerful enough to sometimes spark a stronger reaction than memories of an entire big event.

There is a saying by Cesare Pavese, saying, “We don’t remember days — we remember moments.” Maybe those little things remind us of the moments.

Related to the prompt “Retrospective.“

{More nostalgia posts and flash fiction}

There once was a dog who was so good he became known only as “Good Boy.” He knew he had another name at the vet and the groomer, but he cherished this second name above all else — for he loved being a “good boy” in the tough world in which he and his human dad, “Hooman,” lived.

One day, Good Boy saw that Hooman was watching some type of video on his screen. The movie was talking about something called “confidence” that Good Boy had never heard of.

It talked about how, if you have confidence, it means you know you have something to offer.

Good Boy was astonished. Hooman had been through so much. Maybe that’s why Hooman could not feel this “confidence”? Maybe because Hooman had been through rough times, he could not always be confident, like the video talked about.

Or maybe if he had it, he just didn’t show it.

But Good Boy knew Hooman was still a good person and had a good heart. Good Boy knew what was good. Hooman fed and cared for him and other people. Hooman worked hard and was honest.

Good Boy did not understand why this “confidence” mattered more than what was in Hooman’s heart.

Even worse….Good Boy did not think he had confidence himself. He had never even heard of it before! He thought in horror, “Does that mean I am not really a good boy?“

MORAL: When it comes to others, look at their heart and goodness. These matter above all else.

{More fables for adults}

Category: Life Stuff

Remembering Through an Old House

“The Good Dog with No Confidence” (an Adult Fable)