See What We Remember

We do learn, those of us fortunate to have sight, right from the start, to observe many visuals, particularly faces. To learn to judge the visual cues, the emotion, expression, and often the intent of those we communicate with. We learn to identify and react to what we see. At the same time, we learn to edit our own expressions and emotions, often, to our own detriment. The ‘false smile’ we may need to slap on our face suddenly, rather than actually show our true emotion. Seriously. Example. How often when someone pulls out a camera have you had to grin inanely (or insanely) as they say “Smile!” then when you haven’t (because you didn’t want to), they continue badgering you until you bare your teeth, until the camera clicks, flashes or (in many cases) doesn’t take the picture at all (particularly when on timer). Then you have to do it all again, as the camera controller runs back out to the camera and discovers what they may have done wrong.

The photographs later show a group, which, if you look at carefully, you will often see the slightly strained expressions. The visual cues of ever so slightly held expressions in the need to ‘pass on the message’ of the moment. The visuals of that moment are not truly preserved. While there are moments of great joy in life, if you were actually experiencing it, you wouldn’t worry about getting the picture. Yet for some the picture is a message, a visual for others, or sometimes, even a reminder for your self, now or perhaps, for later years. Watch many modern concerts, or events, and especially rare historical moments. You can see the people and many are holding up their cameras, phones and video recorders. All wanting to capture the moment they are actually there. What will happen with it? Will they sit down and watch it all again. The many hours that must exist already, of often poorly filmed and generally, shaky vision, low light blurred photographs or shocking audio quality? How entertaining will those videos and pictures actually be. Will the memory of the moment be refreshed in the memory? Or won’t it simply be there anyway?

We store an incredible number of visual memories. Not just alphabets and numbers, shapes and people. But we hold a massive collection of the entire visual moments and the information of all our experiences. Massively compressed into that small unit encased inside our skull. The compilation of that information is staggering, the storage even more astounding. The ability to recall a single image, or such individual information as a solitary moment from our lifespan constantly surprises. But we do tend to recall certain events clearer than others. Right now I am recalling that particular moment of me sitting in the bedroom. The wall I was staring at now, waiting for the arrival of my father. Who appeared to be drawing out his arrival in the room as much as I have drawn out the relating of this tale.

 (Continued tomorrow)