The First Memory

So today in Cognitive Psych, we were talking about memory, and Dr. Gibbs asked the class to share their earliest memory, and about how old they were when it happened. After a minute or so of trying to recover my first memory, it came back to me once again, and I shared it with the class. So I figured I might as well share it with you.

The one memory from my early years that has stayed imprinted in my mind would have to be the one from when I was two years old, about my grandpa on my dad's side, Grandpa Alfonso Aliga, and when he was still around. Grandpa Aliga was an accomplished, well-known, much-loved doctor, and a die-hard tennis player. I remember it almost vividly. All of my dad's brothers were at Grandpa and Grandma's house on Indiana St. in Vallejo. I didn't quite understand it at the time, after all I was only two years old, but Grandpa didn't have much time left, and as much as everyone didn't want it to happen, he was on the verge of being overcome.

I remember my dad was holding my hand as he led me into Grandpa's bedroom. I remember Grandpa was laying there on the bed. I didn't know if he was in pain or anything, I just knew that he needed to get lots of rest. All of my dad's brothers, my uncles, were in there, to let their father know that they were there to take care of him. I don't remember seeing any tears, but I could feel the sadness in the room, the sense of dispair, for we all knew Grandpa was in pain, yet there was little we could really do to alleviate it. Grandpa had cancer, and we already knew how this would end.

But to put him at greater ease in his final days, we all took turns rubbing Vicks vapor rub on his back. I remember seeing him laying there, his eyes closed, and he seemed to be at peace with himself, and everything that was happening. Grandpa knew he didn't have much time left, but I could see that he had no regrets in his life, and he was happy about that. He had raised 9 beautiful children, who all now lead great lives and have children of their own. He had accomlished much in his life, and left behind a great legacy.

I don't remember grandpa saying anything when I was rubbing Vicks on his back, but I had to make something up, I would imagine it was something like this:
"Don't worry, Nes-J, Grandpa's going to be alright. I'm sorry you won't get the chance to get to know me better as you grow up, but even after I'm gone from here, I will always be with you to give you guidance when you need it the most. You're going to do amazing things when you grow up, I can already see it. When you get older, don't worry too much about things, promise? I love you, Nes-J"

I love you too grandpa.

And that's my earliest memory. Grandpa died of cancer in Novemrber of 1991, a little while after my second birthday. My parents would tell me later that I insisted in helping everyone else to carry Grandpa's casket before he was buried, but that one I don't remember at all.

So yeah, there's a little personal piece of my life.

What's your first memory?

-nesqu!k