How our memories work . . . or don’t.
Several years ago while returning from a backpacking trip with friends, we stopped at a state park on the way home for a short rest and a good view of the mountain we’d just climbed (Mt. Shasta)
As we pulled into the parking lot there was already another car parked there. Parked there, with a bear butt hanging out the back window.
We honked our horn and drove up next to the other car and chased the bear away. Evidence left behind included fast food wrappers.
We drove immediately to the Ranger’s office to report the incident. The four of us backpackers, all experienced in the woods, gave our descriptions of the bear.
Four completely different descriptions. Brown, black, red, big, little, medium, shaggy, smooth . . .
It had only been minutes since we’d all seen the same bear. For none of us, was it our first bear. Yet we could not agree on a single thing about this creature.
Naturally I had the correct description of the animal . . . or did I?
Since then it has always been an interesting thing for me how people remember things. I have tried to explore this issue in my writing. In my (unpublished) novel “The Best in Each Other” I have the same story told more than once by different people and it comes out a bit different in each telling.
I play with this some in my sci fi writing. There is a scene in “Kusha” where Dorian Thain and his nemesis Mrs. Carmini discuss memories that are quite dissimilar.
Have there been times in your life where you questioned your memory? Maybe you should.
Earth Year 2013
Never mix red wine with Oodo.
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