Memory

I had a weird moment the other day. It was one of those I-didn't-know-that-I-could-do-that moments.

Many people, reading a book and looking back for a previous section, will retain a visual memory of exactly whereabouts on the page the sought-after words would be. If you can't do it I'm sorry. But it is not uncommon. I can do it.

Last week I was out walking by myself and listening to a Podcast. Half way across a field I met a friendly stranger who informed me that the next field contained a bull. He didn't recommend going across that field and asked me if I knew another way round. I did, but it was complex so I showed him and we walked together and chatted until we parted company maybe ten minutes later.

At this point I returned to my Podcast. I found that, although I had removed my earphones, I had not paused the programme.

I rewound a few minutes and listened. I recognised a piece I had already heard. I had rewound too far. Here's the weird moment. I knew exactly where I had been on my walk when I heard that bit. Precisely. It was about 300 yards before I met my new friend. I fast-forwarded a bit, but not far enough because again, I knew where I had been walking when I heard that bit. I got there in three.

Incidentally I had been listening to a Podcast about words so I note, in passing, how 'fast-forward' and 'rewind' are wedded to the days of tape recorders. I should find new words for what I do with my finger on an iphone touch-screen.

But is this phenomenon why memorising decks of cards etc works well if you imagine a journey to find them? Do any of my smarter friends have the explanation?

Memory

As you arrive at the house you visit regularly you notice that it has an aroma. Not unpleasant exactly, simply distinct. A sort of cooking smells plus lived-inness. If it was your house you'd want it gone.

Thing is, if it was your house you wouldn't notice it. If a smell stays in the memory for long enough the memory ignores it and seeks out further olfactory wonder.

Taste is the same. Chances are, if you are the sort of person who is willing as an experiment to chew a piece of gum until the flavour has completely gone and then place the used gum somewhere safe and sanitary, when you come back to it (give it an hour or so) there will have been a miracle and the flavour will have returned. Trust me. Your chewing gum doesn't lose it's flavour on the bed post overnight.

So, what other situations are stuck in your memory as not causing any harm, but are? And what seems to you to have lost its flavour but in fact still works?

Not an advent thought. Just a bonus thought for good behaviour.