Suboptimist

Memories.

So, I watched Memento for the first time last night. Good movie, and here are some thoughts I have concerning it.

There is a a running theme of the imperfection of memory. Even what we are sure we remember perfectly is probably wrong to some extent. Then there is the imperfection of note writing. Leonard writes notes to himself, but he doesn’t know why he wrote the notes. After the movie, I mentioned how much I like Gary Nolan, but then remembered he was a pitcher, then I remembered he actually ran for president as a Libertarian. Christopher Nolan is the director, Nolan Ryan is the pitcher.

On that note, my memory is funny too, like all our memories, probably. If I meet you face to face and learn your name, I will remeber that face and that name forever. If we sit down and have lunch, I will probably remember what was ordered. I remember some pretty mundane things from early childhood. However, if you give me a task to complete within the next several days, I will probably forget what was asked, even if I write a note (which is why I shouldn’t ever be in charge of anything). If I am told to call someone, it is given that I will forget, but I will probably forget that I forget to call and agree to call. So if I forgot to call any of you, don’t take it personally. Just call me.

Did I mention that I had a stroke when I was little?