Memory

"Tu Pupila es Azul" was what I called it. It was the first Spanish I ever learned. It was actually a poem that my brother had to memorize for his junior high Spanish class. So I memorized it too.

Rima XIII - Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer
Tu pupila es azul, y cuando ríes,
su claridad suave me recuerda el trémulo fulgor de la mañana,
que en el mar se refleja.

Your eye [pupil] is blue, and when you laugh,
it's soft clarity reminds me of the tremulous brilliance of the morning,
that is reflected in the sea.

There's more, but you can go look it up.

I still remember the "Presidential Boogie" that I sang in the 5th grade at Sprucewood Elementary, which means I can still name every American President.

Last year I spent a lot of time with the Spanish-speaking missionaries. I taught discussions with them and read the scriptures with investigators and even gave the missionaries rides when it was especially cold. That said, I had no trouble whatsoever conversing with the Latino people we came across...in Spanish. Although my vocabulary has diminished a bit over the years, I've still retained at least 80% of my speaking abilities. I can still bare my testimony and explain Gospel principles in Spanish. I can still read and write in Spanish. My kids look at me and ask, "What are they talking about?" every time I pause on one of those Spanish-speaking channels and will occasionally ask me the translation for some strange word.

I also remember a LOT of what I see in movies. Oftentimes I will say a line to a movie in response to some question, and it is very seldom that anyone picks up on it...unless you are in my family.

All of that aside, I am still fairly forgetful. The other day I called Lisa on my way home from work and asked her if she'd like me to drop a certain item off at my mother's house. "Sure", was her reply. And I promptly forgot. And I was the one who called HER! There are days where I'll be walking out the door for work and Lisa will say, "Don't forget your lunch!" Then I'll grab my lunch and head for the door. Then I set my lunch down to put on my shoes and there my lunch stays. By the door; until Lisa sees it, shakes her head, and puts it back in the fridge for me. I've even called Lisa several times in the same day to ask her what we are doing that evening. I'll call back a 2ND or third time and say, "Hey! We ought to go out to dinner tonight." Then she'll gently remind me about our prior commitment to some other activity. (Love you, Leese!)

I would even wager that I have posted a blog about my forgetfulness before as well. But I forgot.