I’m teaching memoir writing to my students, and I instruct them to choose a “tiny moment” to recount for the class. Just a few nights before, I share with my friend about my memoir lessons, and he says, “My favorite memory actually never happened.”
He explains what he means. I encourage him to write the story, and to my great delight, he does.
He writes, “I’m not delusional about this memory–I know it never happened, but it feels as real as if it had. In fact, it seems more real than some memories which actually happened. Brains are so funny sometimes.”
I’m fascinated.
He recounts a memory he wished he had with his grandfather. He wished it so deeply that it became real to his mind. The writing shimmers, so go ahead and enjoy this “tiny moment” memoir (just 800 words) over at his blog.
Here’s the memory that never happened.