Beside me, a table of three older American tourists relax after their meal. They talk of the old days. 

"Who were you dating back in '78, Jon?" one asks. 

Jon replies, "hmm, I can't remember to be honest. Can't remember anyone before Dawn..."

The third chimes in, "Nobody worth remembering."

They talked some more thereafter, but that last comment, as dismissive as it was, got me thinking.

To move on from what was not meant to be, and to find the one who's right for you, is all good... but I can't help but wonder, would Jon have found his significant other, and would they have made it, if it were not for what he had learnt and gained from those before her? 

To what extent is the past a part of our present?

another of my train journey sketches

a passenger sitting opposite me leaned over today and asked why i kept stroking my iphone... i guess it must seem a bit odd to other people