Lately, Rowen has been talking to me about how he does not remember Michigan. He remembers being there for Katrina's wedding ("Of course," he says when I ask) and he mostly remembers the move, but he says that he doesn't really remember our house and yard, or even his room. I suppose that makes sense as he was only a little over five years old when we moved. In fact, as of January 25th of this year, he has lived in Alaska longer than he had lived in Michigan.
Even people who are our good friends are barely memories to him. In fact, there are a few good friends of mine from before our move to Jackson (let alone Alaska) that he and Connor do not remember at all. We will mention them, and the boys will will act … well … much like I do when my mother mentions friends and relatives that she insists I have met in my life.
This is a strange condition to be in. I try to remember what shows they have not yet seen, most of which we've watched with our daughters and a second time with Trevor. It gives me the chance to enjoy old favorites with an uninitiated (if sometimes bored) audience.
I wonder how much of this is working the other way for me. What assumptions am I making about things that I have done or talked about with people whom I have not seen in years? In a sense, they are always with me, yet they have led different lives with different experiences in the intervening time.
My mind is weird.