YouTube as Memory
A quick, personal thought as I head into another day of meetings.
Last night my 16–year old son honored me by looking for input on a short story he’d written for school, about “one of his proudest moments.” Not-so-coincidentally, his proudest moment was also one of mine. In his last season as a Novice team rower on the crew team, my son and his team mates staged a stunning come-from-behind sprint that launched the team from 5th to 2nd place in the Massachusetts State Rowing Championships.
As I read my son’s narration, I recalled that one of his fellow athletes had uploaded a video of the race onto YouTube. Sitting alone in a hotel room, I was overjoyed to realize that I could re-live the visceral, fatherly thrill all over again.
YouTube has become our collective scrapbook.
Here’s the video, for you crew fans.
Yes, the guy who starts screaming his freakin’ lungs out at around the 1:30 mark is Yours Truly. (The sprint starts at about 1:40 – coincidence?) No one ever accused me of lacking passion.
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Comments
Very impressive video. It's funny how things have changed as far as how people share life events. I remember just a few...and a few more years back, going to my uncle's house each year to watch silent Super 8 movies and slideshows of their vacations.
YouTube is much more handy, but there is something to be said about my aunt's cookies and cakes that came along with some of my very first experiences with "social" media. :)
Posted by: Kevin Dill | September 17, 2008 11:39 AM
Careful, Todd -- you sound like you're about to rupture something :)
What a great way to capture memories.
Posted by: Dave Fleet | September 17, 2008 12:11 PM
Todd:
Thanks for sharing such an exciting, personal experience. So cool you and your son have this memory to share. I'm sure it was a nice "pay off" for years of hard work - his & yours.
Best,
G$
Posted by: Gary Moneysmith | September 17, 2008 12:11 PM
Really great!!
Posted by: Santiago Martinez | September 17, 2008 01:45 PM
Great video! It is great that you can relive the experience through online video, and not have to rely on your own memorization skills (at least I know that it helps me anyway!).
I always wonder what it would be like to have access to my high school memories like a lot of youth do today. Probably a lot less impressive than what I recall from my own experiences... but would still be cool to check out.
Posted by: steve | September 17, 2008 03:28 PM
That was impressive. Great come back and one heck of a cheering section.
Only other thing I can say is "Needs more cowbell"
Posted by: greg godden | September 17, 2008 03:57 PM
"Needs more cowbell." Wish I'd thought to make that joke!
Posted by: Todd Defren | September 17, 2008 04:40 PM
Hi. Just to let you know that included 5 of your blog posts in spotlighthideas.co.uk Top 250 Blog Posts - advertising, marketing, media & PR.
Posted by: Eamon | September 18, 2008 11:33 AM
Todd - thanks for sharing that. I have three boys all in lots of sports and once in a great while, one of the boys is on a team that has a come from behind victory that they'll forever remember.
Posted by: Liz | September 18, 2008 03:41 PM