Memory

By Bob Hansen

The other night, my wife and I watched “Sleepless in Seattle” on DVD. I know it’s a chic movie but I will sometimes watch them as a demonstration of my love for my wife.

As the movie approached its conclusion, I mentioned the way I recalled that it ended. My wife respectfully stated that I was completely wrong. Now we had a contest. Who would prove to have the better memory?

To my surprise, I was only partially correct.

“My memory for movies is better than yours.” She said this even though her recollection wasn’t entirely accurate either.

Everything in me wanted to pick up the challenge. But, in an act of sheer wisdom and bravery, I replied, “You’re right. In fact, I’m sure your memory is better in many ways.” This should have ended the conversation. But no—the memory genie was out of the bottle.

Her eyes twinkled as she asked, “Do you remember the winter banquet?”

I knew she referred to an event back in college days, some thirty years ago. “It was at a marina on Puget Sound.” I knew she was shocked by my accuracy. “I’m thinking it was Shilshole Bay Marina, but I’m not sure. Do you recall the name?”

Definitely off balance by my impressive reply, she shifted away from the location’s name. “Do you remember what I wore that night?”

“Foul, foul,” I declared. “Apparel questions are not fair. I’ll bet you don’t even remember what I wore.”

“That long pink dress that my mom made.”

“I did not wear a pink dress!” Then I realized she had answered the original apparel question.

“And you wore a dark suit.”

I couldn’t recall if that was accurate or not. “Oh yeah, what color socks did I wear?”

“I couldn’t see your socks.”

“Then what color shoes?”

“Black,” she said, “They were black.”

I believed she was guessing and I told her so. Having lost that round, I shifted to an old standard. “I know how high Mount Rainier is, do you?”

“That’s a silly thing to remember,” she said, “You only have so many brain cells. Why waste them?”

I knew I had her. Even though I had used the “mountain ploy” many times, she still couldn’t remember how tall it was. I’m sure my face beamed with pride as I said, “Mount Rainier is 14,410 feet tall. It is the second highest in the 48 contiguous states. Only Mount Whitney in California is taller and that only slightly. In fact there is a long-running debate about the issue.”

I can’t tell you how impressed she was.

Actually, what really impresses me is God’s memory. He remembers all my pains, all my tears. And he has something that surpasses normal memory—eternity memory. He knew (past tense) you and I before we were formed in our mother’s womb. He had unique plans and unique love for each one of us before we were born. That’s impressive.

Bob Hansen writes from Chehallis, Washington. Bhansen6@juno.com