“Hats Off!” to You, if You Remember

Well, it has been one of those weeks… you know, the unforgettable ones! It reminded me of a Memories story written a few years ago, thus I think it bears repeating. For those of you who remember it, “hats off to you” for having such a good memory, and please bear with me.

Have you ever had an experience that made you feel as though you were no longer on this planet, in an alternate world? As Dorothy said, “Toto we’re not in Kansas anymore”. It is such an eerie, unfamiliar, feeling that creeps up and consumes you in such a way, that you feel “out of body”. Temporarily disconnected from all you know, is strange, to say the least. This has happened to me only a few times, but they were quiet impressive.

I remember, as a child, spending the weekend with an acquaintance, who really wanted to be my very best friend. Something told me this was not going to go very well, and my instincts proved to right. Her world was not, in any way, like the world I inhabited. Everything was different from any of my experiences. I was very homesick, but felt I needed to “stick it out”. Needless to say, I thought I had left “Kansas” with Dorothy, but I did not have Toto to comfort me.

On another occasion, I was coerced into a blind date. Again, I instinctively knew I should not go, and again I did not listen. To say my date expected more emotionally from me than I was willing to give, was an understatement. While he was a nice guy, he was so different from other dating experiences, I once again, left “Kansas” to reside in the unknown, until closing the door of my house, after saying goodnight.

And remember that first birthing experience. Was that ever one of those times! Having no experience to draw from, I could only speculate what would be. Believe me when I say, “I got it all wrong”. Everything seemed surreal. I kept checking myself to see if I was in a dream, and if so, I really wanted to wake up. Next time around, I did not leave “Kansas”, as I knew what to expect or so I thought!

And then, there was the trip to Kennebunkport, Maine. It was a windy day. The ocean was rough as the tour boat made its way from site to site. We were enjoying the Captain’s stories of the celebrities living along the shore, when another unfamiliar situation arose. Suddenly and out of nowhere, we were surrounded by men in black “frog suites”, riding ski boats. They surrounded our boat, hovering as though we were being held captive. Again, I just knew we had left “Kansas”, never to return. In a short time, we could see a boat up ahead, steering toward a dock. It seems President Bush was boating with his father, and the men in black were secret service, making sure he was safe. Upon finding the answer to the mysterious behavior, I once again found my way “home”.

Unfamiliar territory is usually enlightening, embraced with joy and anticipation, but for the rare occasions, they are “alien”, resulting in a “Dorothy experience”. I’m sure you have these same feelings of eeriness, loosing yourself for a moment in time, only to find “Kansas” has not changed, when you return “home”.

Source: K. P. Guessen