midnight confessions
Lest I forget
by Dorri Alexander
April 22, 2009
It’s an archaic word, rarely used in these modern times. It speaks to a period of time when our language was richer, and more florid. According to my 1929 edition of Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary, “lest” is a conjunction, meaning “for fear that” or ‘‘in order that’’ one should not do something.
The word “lest” always seems to be followed by the word “forget.” So in actuality, “Lest I forget” is an easier way of saying, “This is something I need to remember.”
Remembering things is something I seem to spend all my waking hours trying to do. I’m constantly reminding myself that there is something I need to remember, followed by wondering if there was something I forgot.
The problem, as I see it, is not forgetfulness. The problem is that I have so much to remember. Not just the day-to-day activities, chores and errands, but also years of cumulative memories, dating back to the early years of my life. Add to that the notion that I’m supposed to remember not just my own “Do not forget” list, but also remember things for the rest of the family.
My husband has a terrible memory. Most days he even has to be reminded what day it is. My sons have to be reminded to do the things they don’t want to do because their growing minds are filled with the things that they’d rather be doing. I mostly manage calendars and lists, when I remember to write it down.
For me, writing is the best way for me to remember things, as opposed to mnemonic devices. I can remember something, if I can get it written down before I forget it. In that sense, I’m lucky that I’ve got a written, and published, record of my life over the past 10 years.
Back in 1999, I took a bold leap and asked the then-editor of The Northeast News if he could use a writer. Norm gave me an opportunity to write a few features that he didn’t have time to cover. After a few months, I offered him some personal pieces I had written. “Midnight Confessions” had its official debut in June of that same year.
Ten years ago I was a stay-at-home mom with a 3-year-old son. While my life has had its ups and downs, 10 years later I find that many things are the same. I work part-time right now, but I’m still at home some days with my 4-year-old son.
During that period, nearly all my writing was accomplished during the wee hours of the morning, after the rest of the family was in bed. The title “Midnight Confessions” suited my written musings well, as I covered topics ranging from my son’s stages of growth to the antics of my pets.
Fast-forward 10 years: my oldest son is finishing the eighth grade and will start high school this fall. My day starts at 6:45 a.m. to get him to school by 8 a.m. Then I have a full day either at work or at home doing chores. By midnight, not only am I hopefully asleep in bed, but I’m also too frazzled to even spell my name, much less write a column.
I can only see that my daily life will be more frantic by this fall, and that major changes are coming my way. So I’m ending “Midnight Confessions” and changing my column to a new heading. I’ll still cover my life in the Northeast in hopes that you’ll keep reading — lest you forget.
Dorri has lived in the Historic Northeast for more than 20 years and has been writing for The Northeast News for 10 years. She welcomes your comments at uptil12am@yahoo.com.
2009 Archives:
March Living dangerously on Gumball Avenue
February Holiday cookie hangover
January Into the darkness
2008 Archives:
December Happy merry birthday Christmas
November Three boy week
October The fear of fear itself
September A cool place to hang
July A walking trip into the past
June The care and feeding of boys & Dad's town
April A matchless collection
March Jobs for tots & Sick & tired of winter
February A Valentine for Northeast
January A pie in the sky idea
2007 Archives:
December Listening to Linus
November Good Smells from the Kitchen
October "Who Are the People in Your Neighborhood?"
September Traveling with Toddlers
July Conversation Two Years in the Making
May Mothers are people, too
March Dorri's Get Real Club
February Good-bye, Mr. Chips
January My House is "O.K."
2006 Archives:
December I'm Getting Nuthin' for Christmas
November Little Binky and the Big "O"
September Sooooo Big!
August The Heat is On
July Under the Tickle Tree
May Gringo Lingo
April Saturday in the Park
March Cobwebs and Cathair
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