Memory Building

This week marks the tenth anniversary of our arrival in Adelaide, South Australia as migrants.  One thing that was lacking in our new life was the ability to reminisce with our new found friends.  We had no ground to go back on and no memories to share.  I will always remember the first time that I was shopping and I heard someone call my name.  I had to look around the shop to see if there was someone else sharing my name.  It was such a thrill when I realised it had been directed at me – someone knew me and had recognised me.  I belonged!  I was one of them and I fitted in.

Then there were times when mums reminisced over shared memories of their children’s milestones and triumphs when I could only share their enthusiasm and laughter instead of the shared memory.  But all that was ten years ago and slowly over the years, we have built up the memory bank with quite a few substantial deposits; sporting achievements, birthday parties, broken bones and hospital visits;  Watching the Royal wedding of Wills and Kate in a party setting, with glasses of bubbles in hand and helping my new friends through marriage break ups and other difficult times.

One of my most cherished groups of friends is book club.  We have been together for eight years.  It’s hilarious referring to us as a club.  It makes us sound like we pay subs and have to know the secret password to enter!  We’re just a group of women who meet every six weeks or so and share our thoughts on a chosen book.  Depending on how good the book is (or isn’t) determins how long we spend discussing it before we move on to other topics.  Great frivolity ensues which is always helped along by the bountiful supply of wine which is part of our membership to the club.  I cherish this sisterhood of which I belong.  One of the bookies is also a blogger as the Yarn Spinners Chronicle and she wrote a fabulous piece on our sisterhood.  It’s great to belong.

So in ten years I have gained some beautiful friends, shared in sisterhood and have a wonderful bank of memories.  I am very fortunate that my reminiscing over the last ten years is happy and cherished, so here’s to the next ten!