Grandma appears to be suffering from memory loss. Although maybe suffering isn’t the right word, because she doesn’t even remember that she has memory loss.
She’ll ask us the same question several times in a row. Or she’ll introduce me to someone, even though we not only met two weeks ago, but I’ve taken pictures of them together and showed her. Yesterday, she looked at some nicely wrapped cakes, and after unwrapping one for her, she forgot she was hungry.
Sometimes she speaks in endless cycles because she forgot what she said 10 seconds ago: “I know how to pick real-estate. Look at this place…it’s in an upper-class neighbourhood. I bought it 40 years ago, and it was one of the first places with elevators. That’s because I knew how to pick real-estate. Look at this place…”
It makes me wonder what it must be like to live like this. John says I don’t forgive people because my memory is too good, especially when it comes to emotions and experiences, where I can relive things to the smallest detail.
In a way, we’re relieved she doesn’t remember anything. It may be the only the reason why she doesn’t know what’s going on with her illness.
And to be honest, I think I’d be better off this way too.
i agree, jeff.
i — like you — have a pedantic memory for every single detail of most things.. mostly a conversation past, whether it be MY conversation or someone else’s that was recounted to me. i’ll say, ‘don’t you remember you said such-and-such to him?’ and the person i am talking to will be dumbfounded that i actually have the time and bother to remember such silly details.
in some ways i truly envy people who have the ability to forget things because it leaves them less vulnerable in certain situations. i think memory retention is just a gateway to feeling any sort of deep emotion; it can be quite overwhelming sometimes. other times, i get annoyed that people seem to forget things that i have remembered, almost like a slap in the face they don’t share the same memories of something that seemed to be of importance.
on another note; how much longer are you in HK for? and how are the meds going?
Being less vulnerable is definitely an advantage of having a less-than-photographic memory. It’s like you don’t even remember the hurt. Maybe a good memory is an advantage only if you have more good memories than bad ones.
I’ve learned not to be offended by people who don’t remember things I’ve said, word-for-word. Maybe I’m used to it because my best friend has a terrible memory, unless it’s about history or politics.
As for my trip, I’m here for another five days, though one of those is my flight, so it’s really only four quality ones. The meds are going well; side effects aren’t great, but certainly worth the benefits that they provide to my comfort and eating habits.
I have very good selective memory, which means that I can remember very well things that I want to remember. And I try to use it in a positive way that benefits people (like my Advisor whenever she tries to remember a date or whatever).
But then again, I don’t envy people who forgets things, though those “things” are unhappy events that we want to forget, because I think that these events, happy or not, are what make me who I am today :)
I don’t know why but for some reasons, your blogging while in HK makes me feel that I have known you forever, compared to when you were in Canada!
How I wish my memory was more useful! One of the strange things I usually remember is watching movies. Details like which theatre, which row, which seat, and who I saw the movie with always stick in my brain for some reason. I can only hope that this ability may one day save the world.
I think I’d rather not know how I was formed by my experiences. As long as it’s an improvement, it doesn’t matter how I get there. I’d probably rather forget, actually, as most of them have been painful; as the saying goes, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.
I guess there’s a whole other side of me being revealed while I’m here in Hong Kong. There are many different stimulants here that have opened up thoughts in my head.
I was surprised to find that memory loss can be caused just from the cancer, rather than the chemo treatment, too. My mom was out in the ozone when she died, and I was glad of it. It’s best to not keep dragging their minds to things they are forgetting; just let them go.
I have super selective memory and so does my best friend, which is often a source of us being annoyed at each other, since neither of us remembers the same event the same way, AND we remember it all in detail, but only from our own sides.
Actually, I’m not sure if the memory loss is from the cancer or the chemo or just old age. I don’t get a chance to speak with my grandmother on a regular basis, so I have no idea when it started.
You and your best friend must have a very strong friendship, if it can survive the fact that your experiences are different. Things like experiences are the foundations of most relationships.
The best in the world, yes.