Please don't feel bad. As I was reading your article, I was grateful for each and every link. I clicked on almost all of them to read & educate or entertain myself. Sometimes I tell my husband, "Together we are strong" (as in, he will remember some things, and I'll remember others)

I am known as the office phone book because I can remember everyone's extension. The way I think I do it is that I picture the person's name and then see their 4-digit phone number. However I can't remember what I had for dinner last night or the name of the person I was introduced to two hours ago! Go figure!

I'll give you the phone number my family had when I was in kindergarten (seriously!) if you'll give me the telephone number at my house today (again, seriously). High school boyfriend's high school phone number? Got it. Grandma's phone number in 1970's? Got it. Phone numer of best friend's dorm room? Got it, too. Yet when a colleague asked for my number yesterday, I was blank.

(PS: I'll also give you the number of the bank account I had thirty years ago if you'll give me the checking account number on my checks now. )

Wow! So many kindred spirits!

Yak's milk is pink. I learned that the year that Trivial Pursuit came out in the U.S. I have an uncanny knack for remembering bits and pieces of the trivial--whether it's personal or general, yet it seems to strike a chord with friends (and leaves some a bit fearful). I guess it masks the fact that I can't seem to remember the "important" stuff because I remember some obscure little details so people must just assume that I have the big stuff under control. (HA!)

Kristin, you're not alone on the Pope's name. The other day I was in my car trying to remember what his Pope name is. His pre-Pope name? No trouble. Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. And I'm the Catholic niece of a Jesuit priest.

I do the exact thing!! I have been sitting here reading, laughing outloud, and thinking thank goodness I am not the only one that does this!! Could it be our brains are on over load? I know mine is!! I have 4 kids.. and I could go on, but that says it all.
Thanks for the "I am ok" reality check!!!

There are two oddball things that I memorized back in 4th and 5th grades. But I can't remember anything lengthy now. Here's my repetoire: The Helping Verbs: am-is-are-was-were-have-has-had-do-does-did-can-could-shall-should-will-would-may-might-must.
And the one my husband finds the funniest (if only he saw me sitting in front of the tv set after school that year watching the words roll by as I strove to memorize....)
"What you are about to witness is real. The participants are not actors, but the actual litigants with a case pending in a California municipal court. Both parties have agreed to dismiss their cases and have their dispute settled here in our forum - The People's Court. Hi I'm Doug Lewellen and welcome to The People's Court. This is the case of ...(fillin the blank)"

I just have to jump in about remembering what's "important" and what isn't. First a little tale on myself ... I have always had a horrible memory for names. I know when I see your face I should know your name ... but I rarely do. When I was in high school (over 30 years ago) it was the beginning of the school year and this girl came up to me and starting talking. For the life of me I couldn't remember her name! Finally when I got up the gumption to ask someone, they really gave me a ribbing! Her name amazingly enough was Cindy ... now you'd think I could remember someone with my own name wouldn't you?!!?

The other thing is in reference to lost keys. My husband -- who is a world champion "misplacer" (he argues with me if I say he loses everything,) lost a set of keys for the car. They were missing for most of the winter. One day we drive over to my brother's and he meets us at the car. He's standing on the curb (he's 6'3") and reaches up onto the top of our Blazer and ... lo-and-behold ... HAS THE KEYS IN HIS HAND! They had gotten caught up in the luggage rack on the car ... and spent the winter there! We were shocked (because we used that car everyday, putting nearly 100 miles on it at a time.) Needless to say, my brother is always teasing us. "Have we lost any more keys!"

To anyone with a key dysfunction: If you only have one of something (one set of keys, one pair of sunglasses, one of whatever you tend to lose most), you'll always know where it is. I can't claim credit for that little gem, though - I read it in a lovely little book called Simplify, that was in our room, while on vacation! So I have only one husband, one child, one pair of sunglasses, and one set of keys. The keys and sunglasses always go back into the same pockets in my purse, which lives on the same chair when I'm not using it.

Whale
Fur
Kicked
Girl
Jump
These were my spelling words from first grade with Mrs. Gattis :) Don't ask me what I actually MADE on the test though! Your blog always makes me feel like I am so "normal". Thanks everyone for the laughs.

It's simply a gift. I have it and keep it going, by multiple methods and modalites.

I'm a full time educator and I teach seniors to rgain and retain memory, which enables me to do the same....I'm 60 years young .

Hi there,

Just wanted to say that I really agree with "justanote". A good friend once asked me if, on the day I did, I'd rather be known as someone who knew a lot of facts or someone who provided for people (whether it's a lending ear or just spending time with them) and I have chosen the latter. I'm sure that the author remembering small details makes the person with the lilies feel special. So what if you can't remember specifics about Obama - politics changes everyday and you CAN look facts up at any moment!

Take care!

The key words I zoned in on are "kitchen remodel". That will make anyone's head hurt. When you have young children, you must remember not only your information, but all of theirs (their schedules, their friends, their likes and dislikes). First of all, relax. Your brain is overloaded, but this is a short-term worry. Things that I truly want to remember I jot down in my little notebook that fits in my purse. I work crossword puzzles and watch word game shows, like Jeopardy, to keep my mind sharper.

In the 1970's at some point, (I was probably about 7-8 yrs old) a man cut my mother off on the highway. I still know his license plate number. (WHY?!??!) RHG-687 (NJ)
Now, what did i have for dinner last Sunday? No clue!

I once had a boss who equated our brains with a bucket. He said that each brain was like a large bucket...over time it fills up with information...and then overflows. This is why a lot of people can still recall things from childhood (for instance the name of the girl in your kindergarten class photo who was squooshing you so you were almost not able to be seen in your row, thanks DIANA HAMERAL, kindergarten class of 1971!)
and not remember "newer stuff" (like why did i go into the kitchen just now...it was for a certain reason, what was it?!)

I think it makes a good deal of sense.