The Woman Who Can't Forget Read Online Free Page A

phases of my memory’s development. For my earliest years, from 1965, when I was born, to 1974, I remember a good deal more than most other people do from that part of their lives. I also have some vivid memories from much younger than the age of most people’s first memories. My earliest memory is from when I was eighteen months old and I was in my crib. My uncle’s poodle, Frenchie, woke me up, and when I opened my eyes, there he was, his big brown eyes staring at me in curiosity, and I started crying. (Before long, I grew to love Frenchie.)
    From 1974 to 1979, ages eight to thirteen, I remember most days but not every day, and I sometimes have to try for a few seconds to recall a day. From February 5, 1980, onward is when I begin to have completely accurate recall.
    My memory for dates and days of the week seems to have evolved naturally right along with my recall of events as I grew up. One of the results was that I began to simply “see” in my mind that certain years matched up by date. For example, 1969 and 1986 have exactly the same calendars, meaning that all the dates fell on the same days. January 1 was a Wednesday in both years, and all of the rest of the days were the same through the year.
    My memory is constantly making linkages between dates that way. For example, I often do what I call “chaining” through these identical years. From a given date that has popped into my mind—say, July 4, 2007, which fell on a Wednesday—I’ll find my memory drawn to traveling back to all of the other July 4ths in my life, from the period of my strong recall, that also fell on a Wednesday: in 1990, 1984, and 1979. I do this not only for days in years with identical calendars, though; I like doing it for any given date, chaining quickly back through all the days with the same date and seeing what nugget of memory first pops up for each day. This is soothing for me, bringing some order to the swirl of my memories, and often when I’m blow-drying my hair in the morning, I flip through all the days with the same date as that morning. The other day, December 19, for example, I wrote up a description of my recall as I chained through all of the December 19ths that I can remember, starting in 1980. I’ll spare you the complete write-up, as I’m sure a selection will make the point:
    DECEMBER 19, 1980—FRIDAY
    Last day of school (10th grade) before Christmas vacation.
    That night babysit for the Reisberg sisters (5 and 7).
    DECEMBER 19, 1981—SATURDAY
    Go shopping with Dean and Harry in Beverly Hills. See Candace in Beverly Hills—she just made the cheerleading one day earlier and she was so happy!
    That night go out with Harry—I am wearing my gray turtleneck sweater and I break my bracelet on his bed; we go to Swenson’s Ice Cream.
    DECEMBER 19, 1982—SUNDAY
    My third day as a box girl at Gelson’s supermarket.
    That night I went to see Six Weeks with Dudley Moore and Mary Tyler Moore; it was so sad and we were all crying. Liz slipped on wet paper on the floor and slid across the theater lobby.
    DECEMBER 19, 1983—MONDAY
    Home from college for Christmas vacation. My first (and last) day as a flower deliverer at the flower shop across the street from Renee’s mom’s shop. Get locked in an elevator. Get chased by a squirrel at The Buckley School. Get lost in Sun Valley. Get pulled over on the 405 south for tailgating on my way to Westwood to see Silkwood. I was with Renee, Susie and Tricia.
    DECEMBER 19, 1984—WEDNESDAY (LEAP YEAR)
    Finish first semester at LAVC (community college). Candace over and we watch Charles in Charge. We are really excited because we are going to AZ in the morning.
    DECEMBER 19, 1985—THURSDAY
    Finishing up Fall 85 semester at LAVC. I got my hair cut really short the day before so now I had really high hair and used a lot of Aqua Net Super Hold. Michael [my brother] opened the door while I was getting dressed