Don’t You Forget About Me
Posted: April 6, 2010 at 1:41 pm"Don't You Forget About Me" - a common theme today. In many various ways.
Since yesterday was such a relaxing and refreshing day, I woke up revived and rejuvenated. I hit up the gym for an 8:30 Power class, and then decided to tack on a spin class afterwards. I had tons of energy and felt like sweating. My body is already saying "Don't you forget about me". I am feeling all of my muscles thanks to most of the Power tracks being increased weight factor and the Ride instructor adding in two extra songs for good measure since it's spring break here. At least my body is giving me gentle reminders and I can still move. I foresee some time with the foam roller in the future, that's for sure!
Then, when I came home and started making lunch for Makenzie, I opened the freezer and saw some of this staring back at me. 
I swear it was whispering "Don't you forget about me". I was thankful for the reminder, since it was needed for our dinner tonight. We are having my favorite Crockpot Chicken & White Bean Chili for dinner tonight. I had to be sure to defrost it some, so I could chop it and get the crockpot going. I am looking forward to sharing this meal with my baby sis tonight. I love our Tuesday night visits.
Around that same time, I heard whining...and realized I left our dog outside when I went to the gym. Her little pout definitely said "don't you forget about me".
the poor pup
And all of this leads up to finding this book in my book box while I was packing things up for my afternoon trip to the library. 
Don't You Forget About Me by Jancee Dunn. I finished this book a couple weeks ago and have completely forgotten to review it until now. This book was very fun to read. It was all about nostalgia and how the way we perceive the "good old days" may not be as accurate as we believe. In the book, the main character Lillian is surprised by her husband wanting a divorce. She then has to move into her parents' home and live in her old bedroom, still decorated in tons of 80's paraphernalia. During this same time, her 20 year high school reunion is approaching and she finds herself daydreaming about an old love, her past friends, and how perfect everything was back then. Through the book, she finally grows to realize that people change and things aren't always as glamorous as remembered.
I loved how it shows that we may alter a lot of our memories to make ourselves feel better and to glorify our experiences into something they might not have been. I think it's fun to reflect on past times, but we have to be mindful of living each day to the fullest and having the desire to move forward and grow in our lives. I can relate to this on how I used to get caught up in memories of a previous relationship and thinking how it was always exciting, instead of focusing on the reality that it wasn't respectful and fulfilling. Or how fun it was to go out with friends all the time and travel freely, forgetting the monetary stress and needless drama that ensued. I can even apply it to body image. I know I can definitely get caught up with memories of how in shape I was at certain times of my life, instead of focusing on today and loving myself right now. The book was a pleasure to read. I think it's interesting how something that is purely fun can also be thought provoking. Don't You Forget About Me was definitely both entertaining and personal to read.
- Are there any things you are nostalgic about that may not be as good as you remember them? Do you think it's best to have a realistic memory of events, or do you like having certain memories appear sweeter than the reality?
- Do you ever have days where you are scatter brained? What is the worst thing you have forgotten before?
I totally have my “on” days and my “off” days where I forget everything. And I think I have glorified some past memories into something they were not. It’s hard to focus on and be happy with the now. I also do the opposite where I think about the future and “how great it will be when…” I don’t think that one is healthy either.
Holy crap your dog looks exactly like mine in that pic! I’m going to email you a pic of Max if I still have your email…
Krista
I am quite possibly the most nostalgic person ever. It is probably because I am so unhappy with my job, that I just think about the past alot. I find that it is really easy to remember the good times, and we sometimes forget about the bad.
Now I’m going to have that song stuck in my head. It was my senior class song LOL. Great job with the workouts – love it when I feel that energized again. Awesome. Thanks for the book review. May have to check that one out.
Oh, I am very sentimental and collect and keep a lot of things. It drives me hubby mad sometimes – I just can not throw certain things away as they remind me some special moments and those memories are priceless.
I am extremely forgetful. Got it from my dad. He used to forget to collect me from school on a regular basis… 🙂 I get distracted so easily!
I always get teary when I think about my college days…but I only remember the good times! I definitely had some rough times as well. It’s been a hard transition for me since college and entering the “real world” but as time goes on, I realize that each stage in my life is amazing and I have to enjoy each day and not focus on wishing I could turn back time! That book seems very interesting!
I have an oddly good memory about certain things in the past. I love looking at childhood pictures and sometimes it makes me yearn to back to those good ol days. I also can remember so much of the first year dating Andrew and he barely remembers anything, haha! I’ll say, “Hey remember that time when…” and he’ll say, “ummmmmm…” haha! 😉 I like holding onto cards and trinkets that remind me of special times in my life. It makes me happy! 🙂
Great post, Tina! I was actually just thinking about this the other day. It always struck me as odd that we can look back and remember things so fondly, when the reality of living through those moments was quite the opposite.
I think a lot of it has to do with the fact that when our emotions and physical condition don’t affect our judgment of events, we’re able to look at things a little more objectively; that’s why it’s easier to look back at troubled times and not see them as such a big deal… we’re simply more removed from them.
I actually almost left the stove on the other night after cooking up my nightly bowl of oats. I must have been tired, because leaving the stove on is one of my biggest fears!
awe, poor lil pup! i cant even begin to list the things i forget. it gets worse daily.
That book sounds great, I need to check it out!! Have you ever read any books by Emily Giffin? She sounds very similar to that author and one of my favorite books of all time is “Love the One You’re With” by her.
I definitely tend to remember things differently than how they really were. Like you, especially with a past relationship. I’ve shared with you about it before (I think?) but it was bad. Pure hell at times and it was FAR from fulfilling. But I find myself (especially lately) forgetting about the bad and remembering the good and REALLY missing my ex. Possibly regretting ending things and questioning my decisions. And then I force myself to remember the bad too and it kind of snaps be back into reality. I also have been having trouble accepting my current physical condition. I know that there is no point living in the past but it kills me to think of the shape I was in before this stress fracture compared to how I am now. But I just need to focus on NOW and moving from here, there’s no point to living in the past.
Love you! Great post!
I love Emily Giffin books! I should update my book page to include her books. That one was my favorite of hers too. I can’t wait for her new one to come out this summer. 🙂
I had a feeling that she was your kind of author! There’s a new one coming out?! I had no idea! I’ve read all of them, many many times, so that is SUPER exciting to me!
That is a great question! I always wish I was a kid again, because things were SO simple back then. I mean, we had to worry about (easy) homework and whether or not we were going to play at our own house or our friend’s house. 🙂 But the funny thing is, when I was a kid, I just wanted to be a grown up because it looked like so much fun! (You can drive, have your own money, etc). So I think I’m just a victim of “the grass is always greener.” 🙂
I read the best book (on tape) two weeks ago! It’s a young adult book, but it was riveting. It’s called The Chosen One.
I just can’t do Group Ride. I like spin classes, but Ride music is so bad, I can’t handle it.
I ALWAYS look back on things and think that they were better than they actually were…. sometimes I wonder why I moved away from Philly. So much to do, so many good restaurants, so much history, etc… then I remember that I didn’t love it and wanted to try a new, warmer city! Funny how our minds sometimes trick us into thinking that something was so amazing, when it really wasn’t…
I definitely remember things as better than they were. I sometimes look back fondly on my first job when at the time, I absolutely hated it.
As for being scatterbrained, I left the George Foreman on for five hours last weekend. Oops. Fortunately, I didn’t burn the house down.
I really enjoyed this book…I read it a while ago and did a review on my site. I remember so many things about the 80s and how great they were, but of course I didn’t know it then!