The actress Marilu Henner, probably best known for playing Elaine Nardo on the TV sitcom Taxi, has a a rare medical condition called "highly superior autobiographical memory". So rare, in fact, it's only been identified in 100 people worldwide.
Henner can recall past events in of most of the days of her life with remarkable detail and accuracy.
Take this example from a recent interview:
"Give Marilu Henner a random date in the past and she can recall it with amazing clarity. Take April 30, 1980. "It was a Wednesday," she says without hesitation. "I was in Cancun, Mexico, with my boyfriend at the time, who was soon to be my first husband."
She remembers wearing a cream-colored jumpsuit with harem pants and a stretchy strapless top with a turquoise jacket. "I drank tequila for the first time, and then never again for 25 years!" she says with a laugh. "The weather was beautiful that night, but it poured rain the next day, and all the plumbing in our resort went out. The whole thing comes back. It's like remembering your address or phone number or the color of your eyes. It's just there."
I mean, that's shocking, right? And, if I'm honest, a little frightening.
Part of me would love to have that level of memory recall. Think about the job opportunities that would open up. Or spots on game shows.
However, I also believe that there are times and situations where forgetting things is just part of the process of healing, of growing up, of moving on. If I remembered every single thing my mother said to me when I was growing up, I don't think I would get out of bed. I'd be horrified. And forever miserable.
So, God bless you, Marilu Henner. You sound like you've lived an amazing, fulfilled life.
And I guess, that would be a life well worth remembering.
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