How's Your Memory?

[RandomAnthony]

I've always prided myself on my memory, and although I'm only 39, I swear my memory is deteriorating. Is that normal? I used to remember all my students' names, celebrities' names, etc. but I swear I'm forgetting things all the time these days. Case in point: I was in a movie theater last week and I had this self-conversation before the movie started:

Ok, I see they have a new message before the movie about how you're supposed to turn off your cell phone during the film. Remember the old one? That one starred the linebacker the Packers drafted a couple years back. What the f--k is his name? He went to Ohio State, has bad hair, and I read once he sleeps in an oxygen tent. Ok, ok, let's think about it...the other linebacker is Nick Barnett. And I can name a couple people on the defensive line. What's his name? It starts with an...H...I think. What's wrong with me? Ok, let's go through the Brewers lineup, just to be sure I'm ok. Ok, got them all. Why can't I remember this guy?

(It was AJ Hawk, by the way)

So...how's your memory? What do you remember easily? What's harder for you to remember? Any comments on memory?

[Jaime]

I am usually pretty good at remembering peoples birthdays. Only a few times people have had to tell me more than once.

[Heidi]

I can remember directions to someplace if I read it once. I've got an excellent memory. Also, one of my coworkers nicknamed me "the human rolodex" because he thought it was easier to just ask me for a phone # instead of trying to look it up.

I'm pretty quick to remember names and faces too, but I've noticed that more often than not these days I have to concentrate on relaxing my mind so that I can retrieve the info from my noggin... so it might take me longer to remember the info I needed to remember.

The internet doesn't help. It makes everything easily accessible. And my memory is DEFINITELY effected by stress as in stress kills it.

[Lori]

Oh CRS is an excellent term!

I used to have a memory like an elephant. My work would involve being in charge of all creative/production details for 50 projects, never needed a list. If Richard claimed he remembered something, and I said it was wrong and tried to refresh his memory, it's the only time he would have to concede I was right, because memory was a given.

Then I turned 40 and on top of that had a kid. And then several years later I got MS which is a known brain fog. Now this is a bummer, because even tho my memory is still far superior to Richard's, he no longer will believe me if we disagree. Wah! My only weapon gone, dead!

[Kevin]

i was going to post a comment here yesterday but i .....

thanks RA - i was racking my brain trying to think of the linebacker's name when i read the opening post. for some reason all i got was Steve Ettman (which i spelled wrong) who isn't even a linebacker and i don't even think went to OS. i finally peeked

my memory is not good at all but i suspect part of the culprit is (ok chicas, get ready to amen and skewer me on this): i am not a good listener usually

[[deleted user]]

I suck at remembering names, but I can remember faces, events and details with frightening clarity. Plus, I'm determined not to fall victim to memory loss and, heaven forbid, Alzheimer's; I do a lot of word and memory puzzles to keep my noggin fresh.

[[deleted user]]

What was the question again?

[Usako]

People at work swear I know everything there is to know about pop culture and the world. Uuuh I beg to differ. My brain isn't as ripe and spongy as it used to be. I could rattle off a dozen phone numbers. Now I more or less remember the names & work phone numbers with ease. Plus a dozen or so combinations/passwords.

I'll remember vague lyrics but gosh I never took the effort to recall the band and album. Pfft. Now I have to do extensive searches JUST to figure out that info - helps to purchase the music. HEE!

Does anyone else have a memory triggered by a specific scent? And not your every day "oh look it's a hot dog stand" or "gawd, that armpit smells like crap" moment. It's a random scent that sucks ya back to an OLD OLD memory.

I had that with a perfume (cannot recall the name). It's the kind my Maw-Maw uses extensively.

[Kevin]

yeah, every time i smell hair burning i remember my ill fated Gene Simmons impression from the 10th grade

[Usako]

My hair caught on fire in church once. True story.

Not sure if I should inquire about your impression, Kevin. Did it happen in the winter and involve a pole? ;)

[Kevin]

ah...did it involve candles and/or fire & brimstone?

actually involved lighter fluid, a lighter and a fan that i didn't consider into the equation

[Meen]

Ahh yes, we never consider the fan.

[Usako]

Kevin: EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!

And uuuh...my hair fire situation involved the acolyte candles.

[Usako]

I do that sometimes, Angabel! Annoys some people b/c I give away the "mysterious twist" before they learned.

[Meen]

Seems like subject has come up before... (Hah, I don't remember!) I have an almost photographic memory about some stuff, particularly text. But then other things, especially short-term stuff, seem to disappear the second they're done. I'm especially bad at remembering what I was just thinking about, what I was just gonna say. I remember faces but not names. I have a really good map in my head, though, and can almost always get back to somewhere on my own after having been once.

[Kevin]

i used to tell people that i had a "pornographic memory" and remembered everything naked

i was just kidding though...

[Meen]

Like if YOU were naked you could remember everything or you only remembered naked people? ('Cause the former would be hilarious. The latter would just be a no-brainer.)

[Usako]

Everything naked? Those poor skinned bananas and apples. So bare.

[Félix]

Some things should be better left un-bared.

[Kevin]

i dunno, it just seemed to sound funny and catch people off guard

[Sally, la reina]

I say a lot of stuff that seemed to sound funny. It usually doesn't fly.

[Kevin]

agreed. but later on i think to myself "that should have killed"

[Heather]

I'm only 24, so I haven't reached the point of deterioration yet, but I often fear that all the useless and random trivia that currently resides in my head will take up so much space that I will no longer be able to retain anything new. I think about this, and I worry, but then I read a study that stress and worrying stimualtes memory loss (random fact you guys). So now, I attempt to complete The NY Time's Sunday Crossword puzzle as it is believed that attempting to solve problems you don't know stimulates brain cell growth.

[Knarik]

i have a very strong Photo-memory, my mind takes photos (:
Actually I remember very well whatever I am interested in. I have only one problem- I can't remember names.

[Meen]

This is how I have studied for tests for years: reading through my notes with a highlighter and then rewriting the notes in a more organized form. Somehow it all sticks (for the very short-term), and I can usually reproduce passages word-for-word. And, it's not just rote memorization (though the memorization helps for tests), the general comprehension remains.

[Sally, la reina]

I can recall phone numbers from my youth, the names and other roles of most iconic actors from the 70s forward, and I could tell you the name of an author if you give me the title of their work or vice/versa.

But ask me what I was doing last Thursday and it'd take me a while to recall.