Outtakes 391

Memoirs

By Cait Collins

I never thought I’d write a memoir.  But after my husband died, I got a little lost. Writing about my life-long love affair with the northern east coast, I realized the genre could be cathartic. First Love Forever Love is not a sad story. Instead, it follows a journey to recovery. I didn’t write it as a poor-me journey. It’s a story of hope and the endurance of love. I have some final edits to make before sending it to my beta readers.

Tables is based on memories of growing up in the fifties and sixties as a military brat. I want my nieces and nephews to understand that there is a happy life without a Smart phone and a list of “friends”. We had a great life and could spend hours in the woods playing or picking wild blueberries. It was a time when moms were at home when school let out. Snacks were homemade, and homework was done and checked before we were allowed to turn it in. It was a time when families gathered around the dining table at the end of the day to talk and catch up. Yes, times have changed, but we can still learn from the past.

Memoirs don’t have to be dull or self-serving.  They can and should tell a story from the eyes of those who lived during the time and have so much to say about bygone years. Truthfully, I wish I had listened better when my parents and grandparents told about the Depression and Dust Bowl days. I wonder if I would have a different view of life if I could see the world from their eyes.