I hate my memory

[Greg_phpbb3_import1]

Memory blows. That’s all I know.

When I took the trip to Ireland, there were constant reminders that I don’t remember as much as I think I should about this place. Why aren’t the streets I walked down more remarkable in my mind rather than dimly remembered? Sure, the place has changed. There are new shops. Some of the streets have change to pedestrian thoroughfares, but I feel like my memories of them should be clearer. Why do memories fade?

I feel like I’m Charlie from Flowers for Algernon. I’m seeing all these things that I know I’m going to forget in weeks maybe even days and I don’t like it. But there doesn’t seem to be anything I can do about it.

Well, there is one thing. I can write exhaustively detailed notes about the things I did and the people I saw. I’m doing this more for me than I am for you. I’m doing this because I had a great time and I want to remember those times. I want to remember the joy at seeing the light finally illuminate the Rock of Cashel through broken clouds. I want to remember racing across wet fields and broken limestone only to arrive at the Black fort to see waves break over 100 meter cliffs. I want to remember the class mates I’ve forgotten. I want my memory to be better.

But even now, two days after returning, it’s all starting to get hazy. I’m writing fast, but the details are starting to slip even though the things I write about happened mere days ago.

It shouldn’t matter. But it does. Oh woe is me. Now where did I put the pretty pictures.

[Drunk Monk]

i always thought my failing memory was due to my abusive lifestyle. Apparently it's just growing old...

[cranefly]

I have a terrible time taking notes when I'm traveling. Three exceptional occasions come to mind: two were trips to China, one was a trip to the Amazon rainforest. I simply could not keep a diary or journal. (Of course, in the Amazon, when it's dark, it's dark, and kerosine lanterns are really hard to write by.) I've always been envious of DM in this regard, because he's seems able to jot notes even under the most difficult circumstances and doesn't come up with lame excuses like me. Perhaps it's due to his insomnia, but I suspect he's just more disciplined.

When people ask me how one my trips went, I say, "It went great." Then if they want details, I just start making things up.

[Drunk Monk]

i've got dozens of notebooks filled with scribbles. it all came out of when i was on dead tour and they told me i had to write reports (turns out no one else bothered, but i'm glad i did actually because i would have forgotten so much). it also comes from a deadhead habit of taking notes on the songlist. Remember Jerry died before songlist.com launched, so back then, we had to rely on notes. I found it was a good habit because it served as a mnemonic - unfortunately, my notes are increasingly obscure, and i often wind up with pages of stuff that I re-read later and go 'wtf?'

[thatguy]

Ever considered taking up tattooing so you'll always have your notes handy?

--tg

[Drunk Monk]

that's enough ritual scarification on my adonis-like bod.

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

Who are you people?

[Dr. Ivor Yeti]

One-liner dispensed with.

My memory is definitely not what it was, but that is true for all of us as we get more memories crammed in our skulls. I do find that i can go through stacks of photos and recall when/where/what. Photos for me are short-hand for the trips since I don't take notes.

I do find that I have very few memories before high school, however.

[Drunk Monk]

Without wikipedia and the odd notes I leave here and at KFM, I wouldn't be able to remember anything.