[2024-05-10] First memories
I've been voraciously consuming episodes of Gyles Brandreth's podcast Rosebud. Brandreth—a British writer, broadcaster, former member of Parliament and TV star—interviews famous and fascinating people about their first memories and first experiences. He begins each episode with the question "What is your first memory?"
Yesterday, while listening to Brandreth's highly entertaining interview with Rob Brydon—a Welsh actor, comedian, impressionist, presenter, singer and writer—a new memory flashed in my mind, one that I hadn't thought of in a very long time. I recalled being about three years old and waving at my mom in the window of a hospital. I surmised that it was when my younger brother was born at the Carleton Place hospital in 1969.
My mom confirmed my recollection today. She gave birth to my brother on a Friday. The following day, my father took me and my older siblings to the hospital to see my mom, who waved at us through the hospital window. It would seem that children were not permitted to visit.
It's not surprising that this circumstance would have made a strong impression on me. This would have been my first time separated from my mom, and I was probably missing her a lot. Fortunately, she came out of the hospital the next day.
Before yesterday, my previous answer to the question "What is your first memory?" had been this: I recalled being highly amused when I learned my mom's first name. She tells me that I said to her, "I thought your name was Mom." She explained that, like me, she had a real name and hers was Olivette. Apparently, I laughed and laughed, finding this hilarious.
