Oldies—the past does not only fade away; it returns in moments.
Fragments of memory
The day of onset, the nights in hospital, the unease after discharge. Clarity dims yet resurfaces suddenly. Accept them rather than deny. The past coexists as part of the present.
Narrating
Line the events, render them into words. In becoming narrative, scattered pieces join into a path. Retelling is a craft of self-understanding.
Sharing with others
Reunion with friends, talks with family, reflections with clinicians. Offering fragments lets them intersect with other stories. Both empathy and dissonance give rise to new meaning.
Handing to the future
Past experience equips future readiness. Failures and gains alike, leave them in notes. They are gifts for others who may face it, and reassurance for oneself.
Why I write
Oldies is not about “being old” but about “being handed down.” Holding former selves, we choose anew. Records are bridges into tomorrow.
Note: This is a personal narrative, not medical guidance.