“She couldn’t remember the last time she felt embarrassed, but porn in front of a seventy-four year old hitman would do it.” –Vicki Calvetti in Unforgettable
 
Memory plays a big part in Unforgettable. As much as Vicki tried, she couldn’t forget Blake, her once-upon-a-time boyfriend, but he’s not the only thing she’s tried to forget, and what she can’t remember could get them both killed. It’s too late for Vicki, but we can all use a little help remembering.

1. Repetition is one of the biggest keys to memory, so subtly slip the word or phrase you are trying to remember into the conversation whenever possible. Example. Sex, slip that word into any conversation and make it unforgettable.
2. Do something stupid. Have you ever noticed you can’t seem to forget when you mess up, like walking into the middle of a meeting of drug dealers anonymous? Something stupid is always unforgettable.
3. Even better, have friends around when you do mess up. They’ll never let you forget.
4. Put yourself in mortal danger. An adrenaline rush gives you extreme focus, which is a great asset in memory. When the clock is ticking, and the drug dealer and his henchmen are after you, your memory is at its best.
5. Leave yourself clues. Like little sticky notes—or blood spatter—scattered about the room. Trust me, once you’ve read blood spatter, you won’t forget.

 
But not everything in life is meant to stick in our brains for the next fifty years. So what do you do when you want to forget?
 
5 tips to help you forget:

1. Visit a hypnotist. Hypnotherapy to suppress memory and timeline therapy are real.
2. Alcohol. Lots and lots of booze.
3. Drinks with friends. You drink more with friends, and as an added benefit, your friends will have a hazy memory and unable to harass you about your poor memory or decision making.
4. Put whatever you’re trying to forget in a super “safe” place, like putting your keys or that extortion letter where it’s safe. You’re guaranteed to never find it again.
5. I forgot what number 5 was. The hypnosis must be working. J

My time in the military feels like another life. It was pre-kids, so in many ways, it was a lifetime ago. Those who know me know that I am a strong advocate for military veterans and their families. Many of my students are prior military, and sharing their stories has helped me to reclaim mine.

When I told my mother I had enlisted in the Air Force, she cried. When I told her I was an aircrew member on the E-3 AWACS, she just knew I was going to die. I assured her that the E-3 was perfectly safe. It had never had a fatal crash.

I was both right and wrong. I survived my time in the military without injury, the E-3 was safe, yet they did have a fatal crash. One I cannot forget.

My last assignment in the Air Force was to the 962nd AWACS Squadron in Elmendorf (Anchorage), Alaska. A small squadron, everyone knew everyone, so when the news came on the radio that there had been a crash of an E-3 out of Elmendorf, I was stunned. Because I knew people on that plane. Because I had flown on that plane, from that base and squadron. Because it could have been me.

• ​My mother remembers where she was when she heard about JFK.
• Many remember the exact moment they heard about 9/11.
• I remember where I was when I heard about the crash of an E-3 in Alaska.

I was in Grapevine, Texas when I heard the news. Driving in my car across an overpass. The moment is a crystal clear snapshot. I was in shock.

Every once in awhile, an E-3 will do touch-and-goes near the local AFB and I will see the flash of the heavy black-and-white dome. That image transports me back to every good and bad thing that happened during my time in the military. It takes me back to that moment on the overpass when I heard the news.

Memorial Day is about remembering those who died in service to their country. Today I remember the crew of Yukla 27.

Some weeks, you just don't want to show up to life.

Little known fact: Abraham Lincoln wrote a mystery story. How I've gone my whole life not knowing this is beyond me, because it's so cool! According to these peeps, it was common in that era for lawyers to write fictionalized accounts of their cases. Add to it, Lincoln was a fan of Edgar Allan Poe, and you can see that writing a mystery was the next natural progression. This article gives a more in-depth story behind the story. And if you're dying to see if our esteemed former president was a good writer, here's a link to the PDF version of The Trailor Murder Mystery.

I can't wait to hear what you think. Comments welcome below.