Stephan's BlogSpace

Write Me a Reminder

All writing we do and have in our living space is a reminder.

As bold as that statement is, look at all the writing that litters desks, covers walls, fills books, and covers items. Then think about what each thing is a reminder of. Here are a few pictures in an around the second floor of Raymond. Each is a specific reminder.

These reminders come in the forms of notes, books, posters, schedules, map, pictures and many other things. I personally have Post-It notes with writing stuck on the top of my desk that remind me of things I need to do. There is also a written schedule above my desk of my classes, which is next to a bid from Fiji and a “Schedule at a Glance” from the Case Film Society. On my closet door I have a monthly calendar with important events written on it. I have a test on Wednesday and Thursday and I wouldn’t want to forget about them. These are only my written reminders in my living space, so I decided to look at my roommate’s desk and in and around the rooms of others.

My roommate has a few pictures on his desk, personal reminders of his family and friends. There is also a picture of his senior class football team. Down the hall someone has a map in his room of university circle, another reminder. Sean had a note written on his whiteboard on his door. He wanted to remind his friends who often knock on his door that he would be out of his room for the day at the photo studio.

Everyone in the hall has a nametag on his door, so that visitors or forgetful people know who lives where. The fire hose also has a huge red label to remind people that it is a “FIRE HOSE.” Our RA has a few notes written on his door and an awkward picture of a Cleveland Indian, just to remind him that the Indians are winning the title this year. (I can hear the Tigers fans booing in the background)

Books also contain reminders, just like all the above mentioned examples. My calculus book reminds me of the principles of vector calculus and mathematics in multiple dimensions. My chemistry book serves a similar purpose and so do the few novels lying around my room. Novels may not be personal reminders to the reader, but it is a reminder to the writer’s idea put in the form of writing. Also, this writer’s reminder might then be linked to something in the life of the reader, in turn making it a reminder for the reader. Every time I see the novel “David Copperfield,” I remember the countless hours I spent reading the 800 page monstrosity. Posters are also reminders. Marat Safin is my favorite tennis player, which is why I proudly remind others and myself of that fact.

With so many examples, the notion that all writing at home is a reminder does not seem so farfetched anymore. There are probably examples where this is not initially true, but upon closer inspection the statement does actually hold true. Next time you look at something in your home, written or not, think about what it is a reminder of.

Thank you for reading.

STEPHAN NIEUWOUDT