an organism's ability to store, retain, and subsequently recall information

I absolutely hate the way my memory functions. I can remember places vividly but not people. I can remember numbers (short term) but not names.

Another designer and I were chatting and he mentioned that we had met before. "Don't you remember? We met by the chalkboard at the portfolio showing." And I can remember the room with the chalkboard, I could tell you where the chairs were facing and how many tables were in the room but I cannot, for the life of me, remember meeting this guy.

I was trying to remember my great grandmother this afternoon and the only moments that came to mind were memories of her house, not her. I can remember her sun porch. It was thickly painted with a warm soldier gray and the wooden slats sloped down toward the front. She had aluminium lawn chairs with thick foam pads. They were pea green vinyl along the sides with a pea green and blue floral pattern on the top. I can remember the way the aluminium arms felt and the way they curved at the end. She had plants hanging throughout the porch with scratchy macrame holders. There was a sort of wind chime on one end of the porch made entirely of shells. It made this beautiful clinking noise when the wind blew through.

But I shouldn't remember her aluminium furniture! I should remember her eyes or what she said to me while she was alive. I wish I could. My mother tells me that she was the kindest, truest soul she's ever known. That she was so energetic and giving. But I can't remember any of this. I just fucking remember some shells and some lawn furniture. It's something but it doesn't feel important.

I wish there were a way to rewire the way one's memory functioned.