I am not here now. I serve the future. We are making memories. One day, Mary, we’ll look back and see how happy we were today: the freedom of the open road in our campervan; the exotic food we ate; the carefree way we ran into the breakers and embraced.
Such memories!
Friday fictioneers is a weekly challenge set by Rochelle Wisoff Fields to write a 100-word story in response to a photo prompt. You can find other stories here
Neil MacDonald Author 
Brilliant! Very well-penned.
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Thanks so much, Reena
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Reblogged this on Reena Saxena.
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For some reason I see Polaroids.
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Those were the things before we had phones, right?
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Once upon a time… 😀
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The joys of life 🙂
Hearty story.
Yes, we are making memories.
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Thanks so much, Anita
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I’m wondering about the significance of the first two sentences. Can’t seem to get my head round it. Is it that we just get on with our lives, wrapped up in what we’re planning for the future and not evaluating the quality of what we’re doing now? Poignant though.
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Yes, that’s exactly what I intended
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Dear Neil,
Ah memories. They’re often sweeter than the present, aren’t they?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We have become a little too much focussed on making memories and too little on experiencing the now
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Such memories indeed. Well done, Neil.
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Thanks so much
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You’re welcome, Neil.
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The old hippie forgets the bedbugs, the salt rash, eating nothing but plain oatmeal for nine solid days while they waited for the check to arrive at the post office. Lots to think about here. Well done
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I’m not sure hippies were much into making memories. I don’t recall people saying this much before the invention of smart phones
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They were smoking too much weed to remember much
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Hopefully, when they stop to remember, they won’t have forgotten their past. A great take Neil.
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Thanks so much, Keith
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Nei, I had the same reactions as Sandra, which she put into perfect words. I see it clearly now 🙂
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Good to know when I’ve failed. Thanks so much, Linda
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Oh, dear. No, you didn’t fail. It was my understanding that failed.
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If the reader doesn’t understand, the writer has failed
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I didn’t mean to offend you.
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It’s no problem, LInda. You didn’t. Really. I don’t mind criticism that’s intended to help
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Memories – let’s hope they’re not all we have left.
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And let’s hope we don’t forget to enjoy the experience while we’re having it
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If ever a title fit the image, it’s yours.
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Thanks, Jade
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Who needs 100 words when 50 will do? Smashing story, Neil. I want to live in the moment, and have memories as well!
It’s funny how technology is affecting human behaviour. I have a 7 month old grandchild and, because of Covid, most of my interaction has been via mobile phone. The astonishing thing is, she knows it’s me on the screen. She also knows that the baby on the screen is her, and whenever the phone is pointed at her she gives a big grin and preens herself. Frightening, isn’t it?!
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Thanls so much, Penny. As for your grandaugher, I see a selfie star in the making
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How often does this happen? That, instead of being in the moment and enjoying it, we are taking pictures to make sure we remember them later (mind you, I am very guilty and hope that I am doing both!!)
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I remember my father wielding a home cine camera when I was little
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I wonder if my kids will say the same…
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Creating memories? We might end up like the woman who bought heaps of cyclists down in Tour de France while creating her memory 🙂
Living in the moment – now that’s an art.
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Good connection. Yes, you’re right
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Like Sandra, I stumbled over the first sentence ‘I am not here now’. It reminded me of the Instagram people who are so busy taking photographs for making memories that they don’t ‘feel’ the moment. Looking at your replies, I obviously misunderstood your meaning.
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That’s exactly the meaning I was aiming for
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Then I must have misunderstood the replies. 😉
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That’s a question I often ask myself, Neil, when I’m trying to capture a scene with my phoner camera ‘for the future’: why am I not simply content to be here now and fully enjoy the moment? And the memory will still be there for the future. So well captured, Neil, and a lovely relationship cameo too.
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Thanks so much. Jenne. I’m glad it struck a chord
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This particular van used to travel to a lot of music festivals. I’ve spent the past couple of years working on history articles. I’m sure none the people I’m researching and writing about were too concerned with making memories.
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I felt that too. There was an honesty about the picture. Hence my story, an appeal to allow each experience to be lived
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it pays to think positive. may your wish come true.
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Thank you so much
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Lovely! Such freedom seems so foreign now
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Thanks so much Laurie. Perhaps, when we can travel again, we’ll value the experience more and the memories less
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I hope they’re also enjoying the “now” as well, seems a bit sad otherwise.
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I agree. That’s the point of the story
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The life on the open road, great for holidays and adventure.
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Though it’s harder to drive when you’re looking through a viewfinder
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Sounds like a grand time.
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Perhaps, though he won’t know until later
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Those memories become all the more precious when you are facing the beginning of the end of them. Treasure every moment.
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Thanks so much, Bear
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If only what we see and recall was recorded automatically. I very much fear it is come soon.
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Your neural implant is in the post
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I see. All of our memories, even sensory will be in the cell phone photographs. Will we remember how happy we felt….snapping the photo? I hope that I try to put down the camera long enough to enjoy the moment. Wonderful story, Neil.
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Yes, that was exactly my thought. Thanks so much, Sascha
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Thought provoking and full of depth as usual Neil.
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Thanks so much. Michae;
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Love this. Heartwarming and wholesome.
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I’m not sure I meant it to be
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Here’s to good memories, even of times that were not, perhaps, all good at the time …
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A wise reflection. Thank you
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🙂
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A wistful and eloquent reflection on making memories Neil.
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Thanks so much. I had thought it acid rather than wistful, but once a story is out in the wild, the reader rules
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