I am often asked. “How do you remember so much”. The fact is, I remember very little. What I do remember is just a moment or two, then as I write it down it reminds of something that I would never have remembered in the first place.
I then join it up into a story. Here is an example. Mrs Salmon is describing a film star. The moment I remember from all those years ago, was me trying to imagine what this woman looks like. Mrs Salmon uses very few words to describe her; my story uses rather a lot.
I am eight years old and once again sitting in the kitchen listening to Mrs Salmon and my Mum, they are trying to remember a woman who was in a film.”
“You know Effie, she was in that film about a tram driver who dropped dead at the wheel”.
“Was it a recent film”?
“Nooww! It was an old film, her name is on the tip of my tongue, I will always remember her because of her eyes. They were very wide apart, and she had one eyebrow that was higher than the other. It made her look as if she was not believing what was being said, even when nothing was being said—if you know what I mean Effie”.
“No not really, Rosy, but I can see why you would remember someone like that but I’m afraid I can’t help you. Did the tram crash by the way?”
“Tram, what tram”?
“The tram in the film, that the woman with the funny eyes and high eyebrows was in”.
I have a feeling this is going to go on all morning, and I leave them to it but I often wonder who that lady was.
I am now trying to visualise this woman with the wonky eyes and the disbelieving look on her face. You would never forget someone like that, would you?
Madeinchertsey 