Thursday, February 08, 2007

The Flowered Lunchbox

I wish I understood more about the mind. For instance, how that camera captures certain snapshots from your life and burnishes them into your memory. I have this one that I just smiled about today because I did something as an adult that reminded me of being that 6 year old all over again.

The scene is thus set:

A very noisy playground with children running hither and yon - jumping rope, playing tag, screaming. It is a parochial school and we are all dressed in uniform.

I am in first grade and we are at recess after lunch. I have placed my coveted floral light turquoise tin lunchbox by the curb while I proceeded to join in the mayhem. All of the sudden in my peripheral vision I spy a girl walking away with MY TURQUOISE LUNCHBOX! I rush over to her and say something to the effect of "Hey, that's my lunchbox", whereby she insists that it's hers. Sure enough I look to the curb and there is my beautiful lunchbox. I don't remember how the tale ended, whether or not I muttered "don't let it happen again" or smiled meekly. That much detail I can't recall.

I thought of it today as I jumped to conclusion about something at work. Nothing terrible and thankfully I didn't accost somebody and falsely accuse them of taking my lunchbox. It was rather a reaction that I had in my head and let myself get annoyed about until further investigation revealed it was something that I had actually done myself. (Insert meek smile here).

My how I've evolved.

Friday didn't come fast enough. Shabbat Shalom friends. Have a great weekend.

25 comments:

Anonymous said...

Friday never comes fast enough, my friend -- with or without a beautiful turquoise lunchbox.

somehow, i suspect whatever you thought happened that didn't happen -- probably would have happened, given enough time and/or Narnia's level of confusion. just saying -- the "thing" you jumped to the erroneous conclusion about this time, will NOT be your fault, *next* time. does that make sense?? NO?? what can i say, it's only barely Friday, and my remaining brain cell is taking a nap, alongside Narnia's (brain cell).

Shabbat Shalom, NBFF! xox

Anonymous said...

Cute post, and I can "see" the little ounchbox. In a Marxist society, there'd be one big flowered lunchbox for everybody. Problem solved.

And, for their deeper meaning, you might want to run your memories by Doctor Snark some time.

Or, instead, have a great Sabbath and weekend and just fuggedaboudit, G. :-)

Anonymous said...

Ounchbox?

*sigh* Clicking "publish" prematurely again. Grrr. "Dear Dr. Snark..."

Minka said...

Jumping t conclusions in a split secnd only shows you that your brain works fast, but your trust in people is careful. Well, at least that is how I explain away those awkward moments when my mouth runs away with me :)

Tom & Icy said...

That's amazing to me that we have certain memories, but I think a memory is tied to an emotion at the time. I recall the same situation only it happened both ways where I thought someone had something of mine and another time when someone thought I had something of theirs because we were too young to understand mass production.

ann said...

funny the memories that run through our heads at random moments... I really remember so little of my childhood, it's almost as if it never existed.

Friday and kitchen duty seems to come so quickly... have a restful and blessed one

Shabbat Shalom

lotsa luv ann xxxx

G said...

Neva: It makes perfect sense indeed. The only reason it hasn't happened yet is because Narnia is not here today.

Thank you and have a great weekend yourself NBFF! xox

Al: All hail Capitalism and conspicuous consumption! I think this question does deserve a run by Dr. Snark. Thank you. Nice to see you round.

Al: It somehow made perfect sense to me.

Minka: I like that Minka and I am sure it won't be long before I have to use that excuse :)

Tom&Icy: I couldn't agree more - emotions are so strong and I can recall how I felt about it to this day. Mass production indeed, how could anyone else have my prized possession (coming from a family of ten, I was a bit covetous of my things).

Ann: Goes to show how childhood just flies by in the blink of an eye. Memories are fleeting.

Have a very restful and blessed Shabbat Shalom my friend. xox

~Mo'a~ said...

Another thing amazing about memories, is that ones Mother always remembers it differently.
Snap judgement....been there and back :)

Sideways Chica said...

I love this post. Reminds me of me...jumping to conclusions. Next time I'll stop and think about that beautiful turquoise lunchbox of yours. ;)

And Neva's right - Friday never comes fast enough..but Monday always comes too soon.

Ciao bella...have a great weekend.

Anonymous said...

I'm really trying to picture your turquoise lunch box

I tend to blame myself which is worse, because when people realize that, they begin to blame you also

I would love to jump to conclusions, and then think...

My half remaining brain cell isn't working that well either...

Claire said...

I might have been 40 before I really understood to keep my mouth shut until or unless I had all (or enough) information...jeez

Carrie said...

Well, I quit beating up kids because they made fun of my big brother. I guess I've grown. ;)

It is funny how things just pop into your head. It's a library in there, you just never know what book is going to fall off the shelf.

Joe Jubinville said...

Memories have a mind of their own.

Anonymous said...

I think cognitive science would say the embarrassment was a trigger, and also what burned the lunchbox incident in there.
You have recalled for me my Peter Pan lunch box that I really liked until everyone made fun of it and me for having it, and I brought my lunches in brown paper bags after that.

robkroese said...

Next time you jump to conclusions about something you think someone did, you should yell, "Leggo my turquoise lunchbox!"

That way if they're guilty they will assume that they misheard you and that you were calling them on whatever it was they did. And if you're wrong, then they'll just go "huh?" And you can laugh, and say, "Oh, that's just something I say when I'm happy."

Doug The Una said...

Let he who is without sin throw the first lunchbox,

Nessa said...

I've never jumped to conclusions too soon *grins sheepishly*

Dan said...

G, wonderful little story. This happens to me often and has been happening much more frequently because of my trips to my old hometown to visit my mother. Yesterday provided me with another when my mom made my all-time favorite childhood dish. I also wrote about it, like you wrote about yours.

Hugs and kisses my friend.

G said...

~mo'a~: So true that. I guess we all have our own version of the Turquoise Lunchbox ;)

Teri: Thanks. It's not a bad idea - positioned to jump - turquoise lunchbox - calm. Thanks for helping me with that visualization. Have a great weekend too, bella.

Pia: Maybe, a light aqua green is more accurate. I'd tried googling lunch boxes from that era, but alas none like mine.

Well, at least I've limited the jumping to being in my head (for the most part) and not leaving my mouth. Don't be too hard on yourself for as you've pointed out there are those who are only too willing to do so.

Claire: 40? That's an evolved human to me.

Pinky: Yeah, I'd say you certainly have. I love that - "you just never know what book is going to fall off the shelf".

Somewhere Joe: Perfect!

Weirsdo: Here's an offer - let's have lunch. You bring yours in your favorite lunchbox and I promise not to make fun of it if you won't walk off with mine.

Diesel: That's just crazy enough to work! Thanks.

Doug: The arena is not surprisingly lunchbox free.

Goldennib: Nah, not you. You just flutter away - you don't jump.

Dan, nothing like visits home to open up those memories. And add in a special home cooked favorite...open up the floodgates. Nice.

Sweet and Salty said...

Man, I've done that more than once in my life! I'm sure I'll manage to do it again a few more times.

The ZenFo Pro said...

You know, I have similar random recollections during work meetings. For some reason last week, I got the strangest notion to doodle a picture of Batman in the middle of a planning meeting. I used to do that when I was a kid - trying to focus on my part by tuning out the rest of the world, doodling.

Great post!

FirstNations said...

i remember that lunchbox!
i had the 'peanuts' one.
until i was in 8th grade i had it.
do i have it now? do i f***.

it's worth 107.00 now.

you? jump to a conclusion? perish the thot! XOO

G said...

Actonbell: My lunchbox had those pastel floral colors...sigh. Of course that may be why it held such a place of high esteem as I was the 7th of 10 children (never mind middle) so such items were indeed prized! I love the memories this post evoked for people. I had a crush on a boy with blond hair and cheeks that got all red from the cold in First Grade. It was a pivotal year for me I guess. I have since not been attracted to blondes.

Pavel: Just a few more? Not bad.

Zenfo: Where would we be without a good doodle I say? Thanks. Glad to see I'm in good company.

fn: Don't toy with me now - do you remember it?! We should have saved those lunchboxes! Damn.

The thot is perished along with my lunchbox.

Anonymous said...

That's a great story. I loved seeing the experience through your words to carry me from here to there and back again. it's a wonderful thing when we notice those metaphorical marks on the door jam...marking how much we've grown. Lovely story, dear friend. xoxoxo

G said...

Thanks Cindra. It's funny how present that scenario was in my head. And the more we grow, the more we stay the same :)