Imagine losing ten years of memories because of a pesky head injury. How did you become the person you are today? Who are the most important people in your life now, and perhaps an even better question, what happened to the people who were most important ten years ago? Would your self from ten years ago even like the person you've become?

These are the questions that easily came to mind (no pun intended) when I read What Alice Forgot.
I was told how witty and funny this book was, and I'm sorry to say I found it anything but. The story line between Alice and the various people in her life made me want to protect the relationships I have with my husband, my son, my mom and all of my sisters (which culminated a in crying jag after a seemingly innocuous trip for coffee).

The sadness might also have to do with the timing of when I read this book. As I thought about it, I realized that ten years ago I was watching planes crash into buildings on the morning after my best friend gave birth to her first child. I remember thinking about what a strange, scary world this child was just born into. I remember going to my second home - the Highway Patrol Post - and staying there for hours with some of the best friends I've ever known, while we waited to see what would happen next. I don't talk to most of those people anymore...nothing happened, we just grew apart, you see.

And I think that's ultimately the point of What Alice Forgot...to learn what is important and cherish the people who mean the most - before another ten years pass in the blink of an eye.