David you have a unique way of capturing that specific wistful feeling about the past. Today you made me think about how our brains tend to romanticize our history, building up our memories into these grand, sweeping narratives. Going back to visit my childhood home last month was exactly like that—it didn't quite match the script and setting it held in my head, but experiencing that contrast was pretty cool, for lack of a better term.
Right on, man. And on the astonishing capacities and techniques of which our memory is capable, you won’t regret picking up a copy of “The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci,” by Jonathan Spence. Get the Penguin edition. If you can. It’s 25 or 30 years old and eBay’s got plenty for 5 or 6 bucks.
"Sometimes we impose greatness on a place and returning is a disappointment." I remember the first time I visited the bar Hemingway at the Ritz and I had a magical evening. Every subsequent visit has been worse. Does it also have something to do with the fact we are less critical when we are young?
Well that's a good question, Ben. Sometimes we're less critical when we're young. But sometimes we're more forgiving when we're nostalgic. Can probably go either way.
Timely piece. My photo cache from a recent trip was meager. More experience, less documentation. I'm not disappointed. Thanks for putting the why into words.
The masters sounds amazing just for the fact that I can’t think of anywhere else where nobody is on a phone (or camera unless they’re press, if I understood correctly?).
I’ve started the journey into shooting photos on film for the very reason that I have a very limited number of snaps available, meaning I take my picture and then put the camera away.
My first family trip the US in ‘99, my dad took the Pentax he has now given to me and shot 3 rolls of slide film. Otherwise said, a 2 week holiday yielded 108 photos. It’s such an event when he gets out the slide projector, we make a whole evening out of it with apéritif and all the trimmings!
By contrast, my parents have now retired and just came back from a photo safari in Botswana… ~5500 photos… EACH! Good luck sorting through those.
You can bring a camera to the Masters (not a phone, an actual camera) on the Wednesday before the Masters. Once it starts you have to have a badge even to carry a camera. Wild.
Sometimes there are typos in this newsletter, Vikram. Thanks for pointing out. Supposed to be "I’m fascinated WHETHER memory is about effort or a natural way one’s mind works."
David you have a unique way of capturing that specific wistful feeling about the past. Today you made me think about how our brains tend to romanticize our history, building up our memories into these grand, sweeping narratives. Going back to visit my childhood home last month was exactly like that—it didn't quite match the script and setting it held in my head, but experiencing that contrast was pretty cool, for lack of a better term.
Right on, man. And on the astonishing capacities and techniques of which our memory is capable, you won’t regret picking up a copy of “The Memory Palace of Matteo Ricci,” by Jonathan Spence. Get the Penguin edition. If you can. It’s 25 or 30 years old and eBay’s got plenty for 5 or 6 bucks.
"Sometimes we impose greatness on a place and returning is a disappointment." I remember the first time I visited the bar Hemingway at the Ritz and I had a magical evening. Every subsequent visit has been worse. Does it also have something to do with the fact we are less critical when we are young?
Well that's a good question, Ben. Sometimes we're less critical when we're young. But sometimes we're more forgiving when we're nostalgic. Can probably go either way.
“And the last remnants memory destroys.” - W.G. Sebald, The Emigrants. (I had to look it up to make sure I remembered it correctly!)
Timely piece. My photo cache from a recent trip was meager. More experience, less documentation. I'm not disappointed. Thanks for putting the why into words.
The masters sounds amazing just for the fact that I can’t think of anywhere else where nobody is on a phone (or camera unless they’re press, if I understood correctly?).
I’ve started the journey into shooting photos on film for the very reason that I have a very limited number of snaps available, meaning I take my picture and then put the camera away.
My first family trip the US in ‘99, my dad took the Pentax he has now given to me and shot 3 rolls of slide film. Otherwise said, a 2 week holiday yielded 108 photos. It’s such an event when he gets out the slide projector, we make a whole evening out of it with apéritif and all the trimmings!
By contrast, my parents have now retired and just came back from a photo safari in Botswana… ~5500 photos… EACH! Good luck sorting through those.
You can bring a camera to the Masters (not a phone, an actual camera) on the Wednesday before the Masters. Once it starts you have to have a badge even to carry a camera. Wild.
“À la Recherche du Temps Perdu” indeed.
Everyone needs a Vikram in their life. I bet Vikram drinks alone more often than not.
We all need a copy editor from time to time! Generally prefer edits sent privately, but these things happen.
"I’m fascinated with memory is about effort or a natural way one’s mind works." You need better editing.
Sometimes there are typos in this newsletter, Vikram. Thanks for pointing out. Supposed to be "I’m fascinated WHETHER memory is about effort or a natural way one’s mind works."