In Billy Joel’s 1974 song “Souvenir,” the Piano Man sings about how “every year’s a souvenir that slowly fades away,” suggesting that we should do all we can to savor our time before it’s gone. He cites postcards, folded ticket stubs, play programs, and vacation photographs as the little things we all save to keep alive the memories of our good times.
At just two minutes long, “Souvenir” is a nice, short song. Definitely a lesser-known gem in Billy’s catalog. And he’s right — though I do take issue with the idea of time “slowly” fading away. Maybe time moved more slowly in the mid-’70s, because here at the end of the 20teens (or whatever this decade is called), it’s more of a blur. I mean, it’s only July 1, and yet it feels like an entire year has gone by since New Year’s Day. Hell, it feels like an entire year has gone by since last week!
But all kidding aside, here we are at the halfway point of yet another year that’s moving a bit too quickly. If you’re anything like me — and Billy Joel, apparently — you’re a collector of memories.
This year, I’ve had a bunch of memorable experiences, including trips to San Francisco and Atlanta, another Patriots Super Bowl championship parade, fun visits to Boston by friends from out of town, the 70th anniversary of my college newspaper, meeting cool folks like John Cusack and Jakob Dylan, my nephew telling me on my 45th birthday that my “hart [sic] is made of gold,” and more.
There was plenty of other stuff to remember in the first half of this year, as well, from pop culture and other places, including the ever-widening field of Democratic Presidential candidates, the competing (but equally worthy) Fyre Festival documentaries, that perfect-10 floor routine by UCLA gymnast Katelyn Ohashi, the brilliant finale episode of You’re the Worst, new studio albums from Bruce Springsteen and Jamie Cullum, everything about AOC, James Holzhauer’s winning streak on Jeopardy!, Brandon Victor Dixon’s amazing performance during Rent Live, the mysterious World Record Egg Instagram post, the Mueller Report, the college admissions cheating scandal, Luke Perry’s death, “hamberders,” and the Notre Dame fire. (I never said that everything that happened was good. Just that it was memorable.)
Yes, all of that — and more! — happened in the first six months of this year.
It’s partly because time passes so quickly and I can be forgetful that I feel compelled to document so much of what has transpired, via photos, my Happiness Project, favorited tweets, an annual “yearbook,” and other methods. Then I have a record of times gone by and, hopefully, mostly good memories.
So, in that spirit, here is a video compilation of highlights from my 2019 so far. “Your mementos will turn to dust, but that’s the price you pay,” Billy Joel sang. Hopefully this video will help keep my memories alive.
What will YOU remember most about the first half of 2019?
Martin's Musings 
Well said. But you left out the greatest highlight which was visiting Brandeis with the Alberts. sigh.
Ha! I wasn’t *that* specific, but I did mention out-of-town visitors. 🙂