At the outset l will say I am grateful that my mind still works. How it functions has been and continues to be a great puzzle for me. Beyond basic addition, subtraction, division and multiplication, math has always been a challenge. Geometry theorems confused me, algebra gave me a semester long headache, and I'm pretty sure statistics almost created an aneurysm. I passed chemistry because my lab partner was brilliant. I liked math and the sciences but was unable to grasp anything except the basic concepts. With all that negative experience it would be reasonable to expect that I would block out any memories that have numbers associated with them. It seems to be just the opposite.
I remember our first two phone numbers: 377Y2 and 459L. I recall my grandparent's number (Skyline 6-2230) and their party line ring of one long and three shorts. I can tell you the addresses of the places I've lived, those phone numbers, and most of the zip codes, too.
Why was I not able to grasp the difference between theorems and postulates, but can recite the '65 Yankees batting order? Why could I not remember that through any three noncollinear points there exists exactly one plane, but can quote dialogue from any number of obscure movies and TV shows I watched years ago? I've certainly consumed enough alcohol that I should have its chemical formula on speed dial in my brain, but I don't. However, if you would like to hear the lyrics from pop, rock, or folk music from the 60's through the 80's, I'm your guy.
This morning, I read an interview with John Prine in which he stated, "When I get up in the morning, I'm 9 years old between my ears. I'm not a 72-year-old man until I get in front of a mirror." That's pretty close to how I feel and walking on the beach is great place to sort out these mysteries. My suggestion is to get there early.
