Nostalgia, Time Travel, The Past...

Greetings!  It's been over 1 year since my last blog post.  For some reason, I skipped 2016 completely.  Well, I think I know why....a lot of stuff happened in 2016, and the time just ran out.

Anyway, we're now in 2017.  I thought I'd address the topic of nostalgia.  I don't know why this word makes me think of a nose, rather than it's true meaning, which is a sentimental longing for the past.  I prefer a similar German word for it, called Sehnsucht.

What makes me nostalgic?  Anything that evokes a memory.  This could include:

- Songs that you listened to while growing up
- A special type of cake
- A German/French movie
- Seeing someone who meant a lot to you from your past
- Eating certain types of food
- Your favorite retired tennis player making a guest appearance
- Hearing the news that one of your favorite childhood books is being made into a Broadway show or movie.

If time travel existed (for real, not in movies or sci-fi books), I think I'd use it for a day or two and visit some of the most memorable moments that made me happy.  If I could go back in time for a visit, I'd be very observant, and just take it all in.

If I was forced to go back to a time that was not so pleasant, and actually be myself (not an observer), I would change something that I regret not saying.  I would let someone know that she was wrong, not everybody hated her.  I think she knew, but I would have liked to clarify it.  I was alone, and found the "clique" to be a bunch of cruel bullies and a bunch of gossips, and personally had zero respect for them.  Some days were so unpleasant, I don't know how I survived.   I admired that she was strong enough to not show outward that she was affected.  For me, it was torture.  I couldn't wait for it to end.  But she had a goal, a focus that she strived for, and ultimately succeeded.

I'm relieved we both got away from an unpleasant place, and have moved forward.  But yes, if I had to communicate one message to her on that one specific day in 2003, I so would.  Anyway, I digress.  This is not nostalgia, but more like regret.  But frankly, I NEVER EVER would want to time-travel to that time in 2003.  I'd much rather that our paths would cross today, and I could let her know, and we could laugh about it, and move on.  Since it's unlikely this will happen, am sending good wishes to her.