SKIP THIS ONE IF YOU'RE YOUNG

Because you'd never get it. Until you become older.

Today is one of my best friend's anniversary. Forty-three years. I remember the wedding, or at least parts of it as I do my own.

I remember painting LDH + LDH on the back window of his midnight blue Chevy. I remember it was on the right side.

Now, what I don't understand is why that memory is so vivid after all these years. Why it literally seems like it was yesterday.

But as the cliche goes, ask me what I had for lunch yesterday and I can't tell you. Supper was a 6-inch cold cut sub at the ballpark, but I don't know what I ate for lunch. I've been racking the old brain for awhile,and it just came to me--some tuna and grapes and chow mien noodles all mixed together.

That's not a normal meal for me. It should have been memorable or at least not deeply embedded in my brain to the point that I had difficulty retrieving it. But that's the way it gets with age, I'm afraid.

It's not just me either.

Another very good long time friend was reminded of one night from our juco days that we spent waiting for two cheerleaders to get home from an out of town basketball game. He was reflecting on that very uneventful night because of an old song he had heard and placed it at the scene. Although I didn't recall the song that night, I added details to his story (as if he needed any more). My point is we recalled something with clarity that was not out of the ordinary. I mean ridiculous, graphic accuracy.

I don't remember what we were drinking that night, but I'd guess a Squirt or Mountain Dew. As for me at lunch yesterday with my tuna--bottled water.

And a happy anniversary to Larry D. and Linda D.Howard. I hope that white paint came off easy.