mem•o•ry

noun \ˈmem-rē, ˈme-mə-\

1a : the power or process of reproducing or recalling what has been learned and retained especially through associative mechanisms b : the store of things learned and retained from an organism's activity or experience as evidenced by modification of structure or behavior or by recall and recognition

2a : commemorative remembrance

3a : a particular act of recall or recollection b : an image or impression of one that is remembered

*****

Friday Night Lights, Track 19/20:
When my story's told, how will they tell it?
Will they say I was a giver or will they say I was selfish
Will they say I was a sinner or pretend I was a saint
Will I go down as a winner, what's the picture they gon paint

*****

J. Cole questions how he will be remembered in “Farewell,” a track off his newest mixtape. It’s a universal fear I think we all have. Of being judged, being forgotten (which could be a good thing) or being remembered (which also, very well could be a bad thing).

Sitting in class last Friday, a girl arrives late, yet is obviously not flustered. She takes her time to make her way to the back of the class and sits a row behind and a seat to the right behind me. Now, I am not a notetaker for no reason. I take good notes, even though sending and receiving text messages always take precedence. But this girl, unashamedly, immediately arms herself with a Blackberry (yes one with a ostentatiously glittery, jeweled case) and snaps a photo of my notes, holding the phone over my right shoulder.

How do I know she took a photo?

1. Her phone was not on silent, and the phone made the not-so-subtle shutter sound upon the press of the button.
2. Flash.

I hope her photo turned out well. I know my notes did.

So I may remember this weird woman for a while. For the wrong reason I guess.

There are certain things that we think we will forget or things we suppress simply for convenience. It's not so bad though, if there's a someone (possibly holding your pathetic penguin hand all along).