I remember there was a comedian many years ago (ironically I’ve forgotten his name), who did a routine where he said that the most important words in the English language were, “I forgot.”

IRS tax collector: You haven’t paid your taxes for the past three years.

Answer: “I forgot.”

Wife: Today is our anniversary.

Husband: “I forgot.”

Teacher: “Where’s your homework assignment?”

Student: “I forgot.”

You get the idea. Surprisingly, or perhaps unsurprisingly, we all know people who seem to use that “I forgot method” of living life. It’s a lifestyle strategy to be seemingly blissfully unaware of deadlines, social obligations, and the general demands of life otherwise.

When one reaches a certain age, as I have (which is summed up in one word: “old”) — then one starts to second guess moments of difficulty in remembering. This second guessing for me is made worse by the fact that my mother’s departure from this life was connected to Alzheimer’s disease.

So, although I will often make lighthearted and joking comments at times about Alzheimer’s, it has some underlying concerns for me personally. And, I sympathize with families who are dealing with the disease.

But, I don’t lie awake at night worrying too much about whether I’m going to be a victim. It’s a complex disease with many factors involved.

(Did you hear about the dyslexic, agnostic, insomniac? He laid awake at night wondering if there was a DOG.)

I’ll admit, right here, right now that I have purchased and used a memory supplement. It wasn’t that “jelly fish” one. That one seemed really expensive. (Maybe you get what you pay for. I don’t know.)

It was something else. It was a gummy type supplement. And no, it didn’t come from Colorado or Nevada. I made it through one bottle of the supplement. I’m not sure whether it helped me or not. It seemed like I was getting a benefit, but I kept forgetting to take it. So there’s that.

I get the idea that there’s still a lot of study that needs to be done on most of the memory supplements out there on the market. I also get the idea that healthy eating and having a healthy lifestyle are probably the most important things we can do for our brain health. I forget whether Cocoa Pebbles, chocolate ice cream, and Hershey bars are recommended foods on the Mediterranean diet.

Being able to remember things is a skill that we all value. Some of us are good at remembering certain categories of things. My wife has an uncanny memory for remembering a huge number of birthdays and anniversaries, etc. I have a niece who impressively remembers many names, dates, events, etc.

I’ve mentioned here that I know a guy, who has referred to me as a “semi-adequate friend,” who has committed to memory a vast amount of specific knowledge. Much of that is baseball related (including detailed information about the World Series from 1919 forward), World War II history, old movie trivia, and other topics.

Every once in a while, I’ll tell this story when the circumstances are right. I’ve been telling it for years. It originated when I was in a local hardware store.

The hardware store owner said to me, “See that guy across the street there? He has the most incredible memory you’ll ever come across. It’s amazing. I haven’t seen him around for a while. You really should meet him.”

He urged me to go out and introduce myself to the guy. It was an opportunity not to be missed. I took his advice and went out to see what kind of person he was so hyped up about.

The guy turned out to be a very nice Native American. I said, “I’ve been told that you have a terrific memory.” He replied, “That’s what they say. I guess I do.”

I asked, “What kind of things do you remember?” “Pretty much everything, I suppose,” was his answer.

I decided to put him to the test and asked, “So, let’s see, what did you have for breakfast on June 10th last year?” Without skipping a beat, he said, “eggs” “Are you sure?” “Yep!”

I was in a hurry and wished him well, not really knowing whether I was convinced or not of his memory abilities. Then nearly a year later, lo and behold, I ran into him again.

We were in San Francisco on Fisherman’s Wharf at Thanksgiving time. I saw him nearby the entrance of the restaurant where we were waiting

I was a bit flustered and surprised seeing him there. I didn’t know quite what to say to him. My greeting was perhaps politically incorrect, but, after all, I thought, he is a Native American.

I approached him, raised my hand, and said “How!” He calmly replied, “Scrambled.”

Now, before you come find me and shoot me for telling that story, remember, or learn now, that there really are people who have what is called “Highly Superior Autobiographical Memory” (HSAM). The actress Marilu Henner (remember the TV show “Taxi?”) is one of them.

(A scrambled egg eating Indian in Sanpete is not one of them — that I know of anyway)

HSAM has only been identified in about 100 people worldwide. It’s an incredible condition which is an ability to recall nearly every event in that person’s life. I remember seeing Marilu on an episode of the TV show “60 Minutes” where several HSAM people were interviewed. It’s a fascinating capability that is not learned. One is born with it.

I’m a believer in creating good memories. Hopefully I’ll continue to remember some of them as time goes on.

And, by the way, our family has had Thanksgiving dinner at Nick’s Lighthouse on Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco — twice. (But, I never said “How” to anyone.) — Merrill