Mobility Memories: The Incredible Journey

Mobility Memories. Mobility Moments.

Memories of mobility told so vividly by Dot (and by Ian). 

Happy and scary – not in the middle. 

Being stuck in the old slam door train carriage with a mad woman. Nearly being marooned at the cinema in Kilmarnock (The Incredible Journey) because all the bus fare had been spent on sweets.

Original Poster Incredible Journey (see credits)

Vivid fear of being marooned or stuck – out of control.

And the golden freedom of traveling by yourself when you are small.

Some of the small detail and imagery is there forever: the smell of the upholstered seats in the train carriage; the time (0819 – not 0820) of the morning train from Stewarton to Glasgow in the 1960s (for those interested, it is now 0805 or 0832).

I was talking to a lovely woman on the train on Monday and she also recalled these trains very vividly: “Coffin Carriages” she called them. What is it about the old slam door railway compartments that make them so emotive?

Mobility Memories. Mobility Moments. Emotive Memories.

My Mum told me a story that changed the first 21 years of my life. 

A cat jumped on her shoulder outside the post office and scratched her face.  She was pregnant with my older sister.  Cats are vicious.  They hate pregnant women too.

In 1997 I stroked my first cat. His name was Sid.  I was demonstrating such bravery to Sid’s owner as I wanted to go out with her.  I soon realised this was not particularly brave.  Eventually, when I married Sid’s owner, I became a cat person.

Vivid stories are so powerful  

As are experiences. 

They last. Especially for the younger version of you.  It shapes you.

Incredible Journey Poster image credit: https://www.pastposters.com/details.php?prodId=33306

Music Credit: Life of a Wandering Wizard by Serge Quadrado