Special Memz

One day, I was leaving my house to catch the bus and I saw a large duffle bag on the sidewalk. I was running late, but I couldn't resist peering into this abandoned bag. Inside I found a few greeting cards, an article of clothing or two, a few loose pages from a family photo album (3-hole punch pages) and a large, embroidered cloth flag from a country I didn't recognize. The faces in the family photos seemed to be Latino and since my neighbors are Mexican, I figured it was best to leave this bag alone and go on my way.

Later that day, I returned and the bag was still there but missing most of its contents. Much later that evening, I returned home from a bar rather tipsy and the entire bag and its contents were gone....all except for a photo album that I hadn't seen earlier that day. It was a brown, 1980s photo album with those semi-sticky pages that are supposed to hold your photos down. On the front, there was a manual punched label reading "Noel -n- Cookie April 25, 1981" in yellow embossed tape.

Inside the photo album is what appears to be a young couple on a weekend date to Monterey and Carmel. (Note: Over the years, we lost the "M." It should read "Caramel" and "Monterey".) The cut-lout letters are not printed off a home computer (or even an office computer) because that wasn't an option back then. The letters were cut from a colorful map or menu or some kind or tourist pamphlet, signifying that this album was made by a meticulous woman and NOT a man. The photos inside tell an interesting story. It's brief and superficial. There are no self-taken photos of the couples kiss, a dreadful sin that we're all guilty of, sooner or later.

Most of the photos are focused on Noel and Cookie, with only a handful of the sights of their weekend whirlwind tour. (Note: Each person takes a turn striking the same exact pose, with the same exact background. This hints at a "trading photos" mindset indicative of new couples.)

Why would someone hold on to this album for so many years? Why did it finally emerge in an abandoned bag of seemingly meaningless mementos...on top of my trash can??!? The more I think about it, the more I do not believe that Noel is a potential Latino resident of my neighborhood.

Was the duffle bag stolen and then rejected once the thief found nothing of importance inside? Or was it abandoned in someone's attic for years, only to be found by the jealous mondern-day wife? Or, less likely but still possible--it was discarded in a fit of heartbreak, following a tragic breakup? All these questions, and more, were clouding my brain. But one thing is for sure--the photos tell a terrific story. They tell a story of a young couple in love or at least on the verge of love, exploring the world.

Together.

Some pages have a missing photo. Was it a favorite pulled, or was it a loose gummy backing as with the case of the "M" from the title page?



Something about the photos give you the feeling that they were taken just a few hours into the trip, or perhaps, a few hours into the relationship.



You know how sometimes something is so beautiful in the moment that you're inclined to photograph it twice in a row, just in case. These photos are from the day and age when film was precious and digital shots didn't exist and couldn't be deleted.

Posing in front of a state park sign is like posing in front of a map of Dollywood.



Was it purely a sexual attraction?



She kept the ticket stubs, for godsake!

The number of photos of Cookie may indicate that the photo album belongs to Noel. Or maybe he's just camera shy?

There are very few candid or unstaged shots in the whole roll of film. God, I would just love it if I found a receipt from the Fotomat in the back of the album. C'mon, people! Act natural! The poses hint at a very new relationship, where composure is regarded and spontaneity is risky.

Taking photos of yourself in front of the tour bus is like posing in front of the freshly penned "I heart Cookie" etching in the public bathroom.

"Cookie, you pose with the guy statue, and I'll pose with the girl statue!"


Women n' cars. Man, that's the life. The ladies and the rides. Nothing makes you feel sexier than having a clean ride.

Especially when both doors are open.