Memory

My 8^th grade US History teacher explained something fantastic to us. He said that during the semester, each person in the class would learn to name every US President in order, AND know the year each took office. At that time there had been 39 Presidents. The class groaned.

I didn’t really mind because I had always pretty good about remembering useless trivia, but he continued, He said that it would be easy, he knew a few memorization tricks, and that without question, every student would get it down. It seemed kind of unbelievable. There were some real goofballs (and dimwits) in the class. Just then a an office aide entered the room with a note. She had taken this class the year before. To prove his point he said, Tracey, can you tell the class who was President after Martin Van Buren?” She didn’t blink and said, “Harrison.” He asked, “And what year did he take office?” She said, “Van Buren? 1833.”

That was incredible to me. How had he done this? Without going into detail, I will say that he made good on his promise. The mind is a curious thing. Over the past 30 years, I have taken on several memorization projects; more one a dare or a whim than for any practical purposes.

For example, during the Pokemon craze of 2000? 2001? My son and I decided to learn them all. 150 characters. In numerical order. It was fun. It seemed impractical and perhaps impossible, but the mind is a curious thing. We have since forgotten the sequence, but yesterday he brought up the memory of learning them together. Good times. Then he rattled of the first three, but then paused. #4 Charmander popped into my mind.

I’m not bragging. I remembered the fourth Pokemon! I am just marveling over how the mind can work, either with intentional or unintentional memorizations. After spending a year in Argentina I found that I had unwittingly linked many hymn titles to their corresponding hymn numbers. I never set out to do this, but after using the Spanish hymnal for a year, it was just there.

At various times I have committed to memory important things like passages of scripture, inspirational verse, and even The Proclamation to the World. My mind easily recalls many birthdays; I don’t even try. I recall less important things too, like Pokemon, US Presidential history, and certain baseball card numbers.

Having a “neurological disorder” that can affect cognizance and memory has spooked me, but so far I think my mind has been unaffected. In fact, just to stay sharp (and to give me something to do when I’m too tired to do anything but think) I have embarked on my largest memorization challenge to date: All 660 baseball cards from the 1973 set, of course. I got the idea last month when my brother-in-law was here and was looking through some old cards. Seeing one obscure, all but forgotten player he said, “Clyde Mashore.” The number #401 popped into my head. He tried another, but I didn’t know it. So I don’t really know what is up there. Having spent considerable time lately selling these cards individually has provided a “head start” but still, 660? Is it even possible to retain a list that long? That is like the US Presidents, but 17 times over.  I don’t know if it is possible, but I'm going to find out. I’m almost half way there.

I know; it is useless, other than as a diversion and to push the bounds of the mind. And, in the off-chance that you find yourself needing to know a 1973 card number, I’m your man!