In a word

There are many things that can invoke a memory. Sometimes all it takes is a smell, a familiar scene, or a song to bring a familiar memory rushing back to the forefront of your mind. You are instantly transported to that time and place. It isn't always a good memory. A smell might remind you of an ex boyfriend or hearing that particular song can take you to a sad time in your life, but most often for me the memories are happy ones.

I love it when, what sparks a memory, is something seemingly ordinary. One of those things for me is the word "interim".

I was in high school, probably a sophomore. I was hanging in my living room with my mom and we were discussing our plans for going to the beach. I wanted one of my friends to come and was waiting for her to call me back. I didn't want to make any decisions until I heard from her because, as a teenager, we all know our worlds hinged on our friends. My mom was still trying to move forward with the plans so she said, "In the interim, let's plan what we do know". I guess I hadn't heard that word before so I immediately started debating the validity of that word. "Interim, that is soooo not a word , mom!" Of course there was no checking Google to prove she was right so we embarked on a 20 minute search for the dictionary. In the end, as we all know, it was a word. We laughed about it and for years she didn't let me live down the fact that her smarty pants daughter (because I so was am) was wrong for once.

I just overheard that word as a co-worker was talking on the phone. I'd thank her for the happy memory she just sparked, but I'm pretty sure she'd look at me like I was nuts. So I will just sit and enjoy it with a few happy and sad tears welling up in my eyes. I miss her.