Thank You for the Memories

 

Photo: Mr Brown upper left; Rev Kenyon lower right

We had Sunday dinner in the kitchen by the window. My wife asked me about people in my life. Soon we began sharing stories of those people we admired or respected. Somehow, we went back to our childhood—perhaps it was the holidays. We both grew up in very conservative churches with strict behavioral codes but we had fond memories of some people who made life special and created good memories.

When I was 13, we moved to Millville NJ. I turned 14 in the summer and entered 9th grade. So, it was a new community with a new school, new neighbors, and a new church. If you moved to new settings, you know the anxiety it can bring. I’m thankful for the things kind adults did. In those days, adults didn’t have first names.

My dad wasn’t a fisherman but I learned to enjoy fishing when two different Millville men took me fishing in the Delaware Bay. Thanks Mr. Montgomery (Pictured below) and Mr. Sharp.

Mr. & Mrs. Montgomery

At that time, I loved baseball. My dad didn’t know American sports. Soccer and cricket weren’t much heard of in Millville. What a treat when a man across the road took me to watch the Phillies play the Mets at Connie Mack Stadium. Thanks Mr. Jensen. And thanks to the churchmen who invited me to play on the team.

There were others too. Mr. Brown who took me to lunches and offered good advice. And Mrs. Johnson who welcomed me to many family events—including trips to the Jersey shore.

Photo: Mrs. Johnson

Then there was church where the character of Rev. and Mrs. Kenyon have been their legacy in my life. I’m talking about kindness, warmth, compassion, approachability, encouragement, and being people I felt I could trust.

Forgive me for not mentioning others. If my memory returns, I’ll update this post.

Getting from age 13 to adulthood in a new community isn’t always an easy trek as I have learned from others who did not have enough great adults in their lives.

I hope that other young adults may be encouraged to reach out to nearby youth. Some people emphasize the value of words. I’d like to highlight the importance of good works and good character that can create a lifetime of good memories.

About the author

Geoffrey Sutton is a retired psychologist and Emeritus Professor of Psychology who writes about psychology and the psychology of religion. See suttong.com.

Photo below: I don't have fishing photos from those early memorable trips

but I have this one from around 1970.

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