The human brain has the power of retaining and recalling past experiences. The more amazing ability of the human brain though is perhaps its ability to automatically repress and hide unwanted or traumatic memories. Unfortunately, for reasons unknown, our brains will not repress certain thoughts or memories that we consciously choose to no longer think about. Sometimes, our memories become faded due to the killing of brain cells. A night that you go out drinking heavily for example you will most likely not remember the next morning.
June 20, 2007, 4:00 PM. HAFTR High School Graduation. They have been waiting for this moment constantly throughout their four grueling years stuck in that school. They line up and begin to walk down the aisle to their assigned seats at the front of the auditorium. Parents and loved ones are yelling, cheering, shouting words of encouragement to the graduating class they have watched progress throughout their longs years of academia. What a sight. Maroon gowns flowing on the boys, angelic whites on the girls. Everyone seems ecstatic. In truth though, the students are awaiting an even greater celebration; the after party. Speeches, cheers, more speeches, more cheers. Everyone stands, tassels are switched over, caps are thrown. Students are graduates. Minds are racing with thoughts of the future, thoughts of families and friends waiting for them, but one thought in particular stands out more than the rest: lets get the fuck out of here.
June 20, 2007, 9:00 PM. HAFTR High School After Party. Slowly the graduates arrive at the party house. As the kids come, so do the drinks and other substances one would expect to find at a post high school graduation party. This is the night where cliques are no more. Friends are not only drinking with friends, but with enemies as well. Jocks are smoking with losers. Cheerleaders are talking to bookworms. After four years of struggle there is peace. The party goes on for what seems like hours. All of a sudden there are flashing lights. Cops. Everyone runs. Overreaction; they just asked to keep it down so that they neighbors could sleep in peace. They even congratulated the graduated and wished them luck in the future. It’s only 11:30. More drinking, more smoking, more kissing, more chatting. People are vomiting, people are pissing. Nobody cares. It’s a night of total carelessness for these recent alumni. After four years together they are finally together.
It’s getting late. People are sick. People are tired. People are drunk. People are stoned, yet enough people are sober to make sure everyone gets home safely. Hundreds of beers, countless bottles of rum, vodka, scotch, and even tequila vanished completely into the bodies of ninety or so teenagers. Those who will remember in the morning will never forget. Those who wont remember, will never forget either.
Memories are perhaps bodies most amazing approach to depression and happiness. Weather to remove depression and bring happiness, or vice versa, memories are the key. The most peculiar thing about them is the fact that we have no conscious control over them. Weather due to drinking, or drug use where most memories would disappear forever, some will stay. It’s almost as if they are fighting to stay part of our memory banks. Memories are an almost magical force here to guide us through our lives. When we are bad, equally bad memories will come flooding back as what seems to be a bizarre type of subconscious masochistic punishment. When we are good, equally positive memories will come flooding back as a sort of self gratifying pat on the head so to speak. I believe that Memories are one phenomena of the body that belong to our subconscious, and our subconscious alone.
