The Notebooks

Mark Twain once said,

"When I was younger I could remember anything,

whether it happened or not."

My father told me memories are all we are.

Moments, feelings captured on threads of reason.

He'd say, take a man's memory and you clean the slate.

Chip away at his memory and he'll slowly die.

At first, it was the simple things: keys, wallet.

And then it was where did he park the car?

Then it was names, faces, even his own address.

My biggest fear for my dad wasn't him forgetting me.

It was him forgetting what he loved so much.

This is the story of my father.

Hi, can I help you?

Do you have a reservation?

Okay?

Preston Walker.

I have a reservation.

203 Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA.

Okay, Mr. Walker.

We have you right here.

All right, can I get your credit card and photo ID?

All right, thank you.

All right, well welcome, Mr. Walker.

Would you like a king or two queens?

I already have a reservation.

All right, got you. I got you.

All right, how about a king?

Third floor.

The elevator's around the corner,

the pool and sitting area are down this hall this way.

Breakfast is served from six to nine every morning-

Okay. Okay, slow down.

And um, breakfast, six to nine AM?

Yes, sir.

And anything else?

Oh uh, yeah.

We do have a complimentary happy hour

from five to seven every night,

and yours truly is the bartender.

Here you go.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Yes?

Yes.

Thank you.

Dear Lord, I know that I am a sinner

and I ask for your forgiveness.

I believe you died for my sins and rose from the dead.

I turn from my sin and invite you

to come into my heart and life.

I want to trust and follow you as my Lord and savior.

Once saved, always saved.

Dad?

Dad? Hey?

Dad?

Dad, it's Madison.

Um, I just got to your house

and a little worried about where you are.

Please give me a call as soon as you get this.

I love you.

There you go.

There you go. You got your teddy bear?

You're all set up.

Okay?

All right.

What's this guy doin'?

Takes all kinds.

Ugh, come on, dad.

Pick up.

Just pick up.

Pick, pick up.

Can I help you?

I'm good.

Where's Ben?

Oh, he's in his room.

Did you hear anything about your dad?

Nothing.

I'm thinking about calling the police.

I mean, I just talked to him yesterday

and he was fine and today nothing?

What if he lost his phone?

Honey, I'm sure he's fine.

If I don't hear from him tomorrow, I'm calling the police.

I'm serious.

Yes.

Yeah, I just left the police station.

All they said was they're going to issue some kind of alert.

Some re...

I don't, I don't know.

Yeah, that's it.

Yeah. I've been all over town.

Yes. No, I've been there, too.

I can't find him.

I'm starting to get really worried.

Preston.

How's your day going?

Fine.

Well, you know, it is happy hour.

You want some wine? Some beer?

Um, how about some orange juice?

Okay.

No problem.

Thank you. - No problem.

So are you here to visit a loved one in the hospital?

No.

My daughter Emma was in an accident.

She's fine, but she might have surgery tomorrow.

I came in yesterday.

I'm from Kansas city.

I'm from Philadelphia

Here for work?

Um, no, I used to live here.

Hm. It's a beautiful town.

My husband and I used to come here for Christmas.

Some great memories.

Something about small towns.

Yeah.

Something about a small town.

So I guess you're visiting some family member?

Oh. No.

I just wanted to come home.

Sir, yeah. No, sir.

There's no way that y'all could be that busy.

No, no.

We come down here every single week.

We make the same trip to your hospital every single week

and you tell me the same thing.

No, there's no way, man.

Look, my daughter needs the surgery.

How can-

No, no.

Sir.

Every single week it's the same thing.

We make the same trip every week

to be told the same thing.

Oh, Maury.

I love that.

You can join me.

Good morning.

Same to you.

It should be a beautiful day.

What are you going to do today?

I'm visiting.

I'm gonna go visit my daughter.

Say a prayer.

For what?

I thought I told you last night?

She was in an accident. She's in the hospital.

Yes.

Yes, of course.

Are you okay?

Yes, yes.

I'm just gonna go upstairs.

Are you okay?

Yes.

I'm just gonna go up and finish my breakfast in my room.

Where's room 330?

Room 330.

Barb.

Um, silver hair.

Blue eyes.

What was the other thing? What's the other thing?

Daughter, a daughter.

In hospital.

Uh...

Barb.

Lobby.

Daughter in hospital.

All right, what else? What else?

Green eyes.

What else?

Kevin Williams for two.

That's the end of the first quarter.

Hey there.

Hello.

You know, the track, the field,

and this press box is closed during school hours.

I'm sorry. I know.

I'm sorry. I shouldn't be here.

I shouldn't have come.

I should've just stayed back in the hotel.

Hey, hey, it's all right.

Don't worry about it.

I'm Coach Roberts.

I'm the head coach of the football team.

Oh.

Um, I played football here.

You did? Really?

Wow.

You mind me asking what year?

A while ago.

Um, but when I was here, none of this was here.

I mean, the field, the field was like exactly right there

but it wasn't this field.

You're right.

You know, this track is 10 years old

and we put these stands in here about 15 years ago,

but it is the same field.

Hm.