I remember, do you? I have memories, do you?

I remember the house I used to live in. I remember the carpet on the floor. I remember the removal of the carpet, and the polishing of the wood underneath. I remember the mahogany table, and I remember polishing that table. I remember the furniture. I remember that we took the partition out between my bedroom and the office space, creating a big bedroom for me. I remember laying in my bed at night, listening to the sound of rain on the wooden louvres. I remember climbing the partition in my bedroom when it was still there. I remember the golden apple tree, covered in bougainvillea. I remember the massive mango trees, covered in Julie mangos, and the monkeys dancing through the trees. I remember a cat called Sam, alternately short for Samedi and Surface to Air Missile. I remember bringing Sam home from the beach, a stray. I remember Nell giving birth to puppies, and keeping the puppies in a massive cardboard box. I have pictures of me taking a radio apart, but I don’t remember that. I remember Henry howling when I’d ‘play’ the harmonica.

I have memories. Memories of getting an old steam engine going for school. Memories of taking my old radio apart, and hooking it up to the LED laser kit at college, to demonstrate that sound could be transmitted via light. Memories of a storm one day, while in the lab. Memories of lightning hitting the telephone pole just outside the lab. Memories of sitting on the steps, listening to Andew play sax, and Jomo play guitar. Memories of sitting under the mahogany trees, chatting with friends and avoiding class. Memories of a professor who wore trousers that zipped up the side of the leg. Memories of failing classes, but passing life.