Is it just me, or do the things we cherish have a profound effect on our memory? Why do some of us keep diaries or write our life stories? Many seniors have re-energized the past by perusing volumes of love letters. It takes but a moment, a satin ribbon is slipped away, and we travel back in time to a different place. How many rainy afternoons have you picked up the family album and felt a glow come to your cheeks?

Things we touch, smell or sense can open doors to the past — a fading snapshot in an album of, perhaps, a father we never understood, the photo of mom smiling, standing next to you, the time she showed you how to churn butter, or sew the hem of a dress, are never lost with the passing decades because they remain there, in images, helping make a connection to the past.

Memory is the fuel for our nostalgia, and fires up our recall to travel back in time to a happier place. The past is filled with images of school bells, making best friends, and special secrets. On television, after a raging fire has destroyed a home, you might see the family wipe away tears as they look straight into the camera and say, "It's alright. We've lost everything, but we saved what was really important, our family photos."

With men and women in war, scars can be reminders of another time, perhaps a sadder moment. Still, to release pressure, we sometimes need to go back by viewing objects of another era.

Ron Bristol, a Simi Valley volunteer at the Senior Center, is also a collector of antiques, and has generously brought to the center a wide variety of war memorabilia souvenirs, everything from a replica hand grenade of World War II to brass buttons to an 1851 showcase-condition Colt six-shooter that loads powder and shot into the revolver unit.

Two other seniors have offered articles of war. Nancy Wright, a young senior, added to the showcase a Japanese World War II sniper's rifle that was brought back from a South Pacific island when her grandfather shot the enemy soldier, and the bullet went through the stock of the weapon on one side and out the other.

There are Civil War caps from both sides of the conflict, and so many other displays. If you are a war buff, don't miss this impressive display of the artifacts of the Civil War, World War I, World War II and the Korean War. The items are in a display case in the west entrance of the Simi Valley Senior Center. The viewing will end July 31.

Quite a recovery

Years ago, this column recorded the medical progress of Patrick Fazio. Fazio, 80, had suffered a stroke, which left him with a leg he literally had to drag behind him. Determined he would not settle for his condition, he took a doctor's advice to consider joining a dance class at Simi Valley Senior Center. That was years ago. He also decided to join a tae kwon do program, where he has steadily advanced through the many levels of difficulty in achievement of the various colors of belts of proficiency.

Fazio no longer limps! A dedicated student, he recently advanced within the highest level of the art in black belt performance, and says his life has changed forever. Fazio's granddaughter, 13, has also become a student of the art, and has advanced to the seventh level of the black belt program. Now a great-grandchild has joined the discipline. Fazio is a role model for generations to come.

Center offers genealogy group

Would you like to know if your ancestors were royalty? Want to find out where your family came from? Drop in at a meeting of the Thousand Oaks Goebel Center's genealogy group from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays. Coordinators are Lois Burke, Ken Lynch and Garl Satterthwaite.

— Star columnist David Nankivell may be reached by fax at 482-6167.