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Tommy_Carcetti

(43,085 posts)
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:12 PM Sep 2018

Funny thing if you ask me about dates of personal events

If you ask me off the top of my head the exact date any of my grandparents died, I cannot remember.

I can remember the month and year. I can tell you how old I was. I can remember exactly how I was told about their deaths and where I was. I can remember my exact reaction.

But I cannot remember the dates themselves without looking it up.

We remember the dates of birthdays and anniversaries because they are joyous events that we celebrate each year. We remember the dates of historical importance--September 11, 2001, November 22, 1963, December 7, 1941--because those are remembered by the general public and we hear about them on the news every year when that date comes around.

But dates of personal significance where the events are troubling or disturbing or uncomfortable, where there's no need to celebrate or remember on an annual basis....we don't always remember those dates. We don't want to dwell on those dates. We remember everything about that day, but we don't always remember that date.

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Funny thing if you ask me about dates of personal events (Original Post) Tommy_Carcetti Sep 2018 OP
Completely agree MANative Sep 2018 #1
I, OTOH, can remember dates precisely... regnaD kciN Sep 2018 #2

MANative

(4,105 posts)
1. Completely agree
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:17 PM
Sep 2018

I remember minute details of events, but not the date. I happen to remember the date my father died because it was the day after his sister's birthday, which we always celebrated together. Can't remember the dates of my mother-in-law, father-in-law, grandparents, and brother's deaths, but the details of the circumstances and reactions are as vivid as if they had happened yesterday.

regnaD kciN

(26,035 posts)
2. I, OTOH, can remember dates precisely...
Thu Sep 27, 2018, 02:21 PM
Sep 2018

...but I realize that is a personal quirk, and not something to expect from most people.

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