You ever recover a lost memory? (lemmy.world)

submitted 4 months ago by droning_in_my_ears@lemmy.world to c/casualconversation@lemm.ee

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So one time, I was on a bus and this guy next to me was very bored and said "When the bell rings, the time will be 10:30 am...DING!", "When the bell rings, the time will be 10:31 am...DING!", in a robotic voice.

At first I was confused. I didn't know what he was talking about. Then I stared at him and I could just feel a wave of nostalgia. A very distant memory almost forgotten came back. I'm 7 years old, bored at home with nothing to do pre-internet. I call a landline number that has a service that tells you the time and just listen in... that's exactly what the telephone lady would say. OMG he's imitating the landline time service lol

It felt very satisfying too. It's like a eureka moment but for memory rather than thought.

Anything similar happen to you?

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[-] A_Union_of_Kobolds@lemmy.world 14 points 4 months ago

I recently found a candle that smells just like my childhood friend's house. Instantly took me back to playing SNES emulators and staying over for dinner.

[-] droning_in_my_ears@lemmy.world 8 points 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago)

I heard smell is particularly good at bringing back memories, sometimes even in Alzheimer's patients.

To me it's hearing that seems the strongest, especially music.

[-] Cobrachicken@lemmy.world 3 points 4 months ago

I can still remember the smell of the gravel paths in my gradparent's garden when it was raining. Oddly specific memory, innit? No other smells that I "remember".

[-] dogsnest@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Music takes you back to the days that you first heard it, often precisely detailed and exact. From there, the rest of your life is available.

[-] scytale@lemm.ee 1 points 4 months ago

Agreed. For me, music takes me back to the place I was at when I was listening to it, especially when I’m traveling. I can recall specific situations in other countries where I traveled to just by hearing the songs I was listening to at the time.

[-] Elaine@lemm.ee 8 points 4 months ago

When my grandfather died 25 years ago I snagged his bottle of cologne when we cleaned out his house. Every now and then I pull out that bottle and it’s like being whooshed backwards through time and space.

[-] thepreciousboar@lemm.ee 5 points 4 months ago

I have a small candy tin that i brought around to keep small toys when we travelled across countries with my family. Every couple or so years I open it and it still smells of strawberry after 15+ years, and I immediately run through my childhood travels