I met Kay in 1954 at Trout Lodge Family Camp. We met in the recreation hall while the juke box was playing "You, You, You." For the next six years she was my number two dating partner and I was hers. She is four years younger than me which seemed much too great to consider her as my number one girl friend. For years whenever I heard the song "You, You, You," I would remember Kay. Walks with her at Trout Lodge and catching horses to ride late at night still come to mind.
Feelings connected with memories provide useful information about how to live life. Pleasant memories like mine about Kay steer a person towards repeating positive experiences.
I also have memories about a young girl who slipped beneath the water at a pool where I was a life guard. She was an excellent swimmer who was within two feet of the pool wall. Fortunately I noticed that she sunk into the water feet first, a clue that something was wrong. To this day I could not tell you if I blew my warning before I dove or while I was in mid air. I do know I was pulling her up before her feet touched the pool bottom. Memories of danger stick with us in detail. They provide us with images that protect us in future situations.
I think we remember experiences where something went wrong in more detail because those experiences can save our life. Memories of trouble were especially important when we lived closer to wildlife, when bears and humans might share the same cave in winter if care was not taken. The same danger exists today on our highways but we spend much less time on highways than our ancestors spent among wild animals or near dangerous waters.
Today we need to remember more positive experiences even though our brain is not trained to keep those details. Memories of difficulties will still be stored for us. Memories of success that can build our self esteem are more difficult. It takes a planned effort to remember the experiences that will bring us success in our modern word.