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I could have sworn I remembered that
Memory mix-ups, an unforgettable teacher, and some unusual trips to the ER.
Greg Sullivan
October 19, 2026 • Est. Reading Time: 3 minutes
In partnership with
“What matters in life is not what happens to you but what you remember and how you remember it.”
― Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Ever been absolutely certain you remembered something correctly? Today’s lead might give you pause. We’re looking at a curious discovery about how memories age, then Eric Pfeiffer introduces a teacher whose commitment to biology class deserves a round of applause. Meanwhile, ER workers have a few things they’d like to get off their chests. And yes, we’re going to Blockbuster. Anybody still have their card?
Health
A new study suggests forgetfulness isn't always what it seems.
Ever been absolutely certain you told a friend something, only to discover you actually told your spouse? Or been positive you hadn't already run a story in the newsletter, only to discover it staring back at you in Thursday's issue? (No? Just me?) Your brain might not have forgotten anything. It might have just pulled the wrong file.
We've long known that memory isn't a perfect recording, but researchers are learning that the problem gets more complicated as we age. In this fascinating new study, explained by psychologist Ian McDonough, scientists scanned the brains of young, middle-aged, and older adults to see what happens when memories form, are stored, and are retrieved. Older brains made some interesting mistakes.
More surprisingly, the brain activity associated with those mistakes wasn't quite what researchers expected. The findings suggest that what we casually dismiss as forgetfulness may involve something much more complicated happening inside our heads. And understanding that difference could eventually change how we approach age-related memory problems.
GOOD reader Kathleen Nowak captured this spectacular view through Arch Rock on Michigan's Mackinac Island last week. Lake Huron looks almost tropical through this amazing natural frame, though Kathleen says it was a gloriously cool, clear October day.
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Which everyday memory lapse gets you most often?I am so painfully victim to one of these. Or two... maybe three... |
Last Week's Results
In Friday's issue, we shared the French bulldog's rise to America's favorite dog breed.
And we asked: What matters most to you in a dog? More than half of you (55.7%) chose a calm, easygoing personality. Cuddles are great, but a little household peace goes a long way.
Affection and cuddles (21.5%)
Brains and trainability (20.8%)
Playfulness and energy (2.0%)
A calm, easygoing personality (55.7%)
GOOD reader FaithyM lives the results of this poll every day. “I hit the Jackpot with my little Mutt, DaHaun. He's quiet, sweet and very forgiving. I don't deserve him, but he loves me anyway.”
Pop Culture | Courtesy of Upworthy
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Teacher goes above and beyond for a biology lesson by wearing an anatomically correct suit | ||
That’s one way to keep students engaged! | ||
By Eric Pfeiffer | ||
Being an educator in the American public school system is one of the hardest jobs in our nation. Not only is the work itself challenging, but with constant battles for educational funding and a student body increasingly tethered to their electronic devices, most teachers in America and around the world are navigating uncharted territory when it comes to finding ways to keep their students engaged in their studies. | ||
And that’s why when Verónica Duque came across a form-fitting, anatomical bodysuit while doing some online shopping, she thought it would be perfect visual aid to convey vital information (pun intended) to her students in Spain, in a way they’d actually remember. | ||
Turns out, the entire internet would remember it too. | ||
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Culture
Don’t take this as medical advice, just social guidance from the front lines.
The Emergency Room is one of those things that is just named so perfectly. Having an emergency? We’ve got a room for that! But mix socio-political ideas of toughness with a helping of financial considerations and a healthy dollop of fear, and the question of what counts as an emergency gets complicated. Still, when you’re in fear of life or limb, you should go.
On the far, far, far other end of the spectrum? Mark Wales has collected 33 things ER staff beg you not to come in for. Too embarrassed to buy that pregnancy test? Don’t go to the ER. Need a note to get out of school? Please don’t. Kid scraped their elbow… seriously?
Not everything on this list is obvious, so before you say “I’d never,” take a look.
On October 19, 1985, the first Blockbuster Video opened in Dallas, Texas, stocked with some 8,000 videotapes and ready to launch a Friday-night ritual for millions of Americans. Remember wandering the aisles for half an hour, only to find the movie you wanted was already rented, and finally settling on something nobody was particularly excited about?
At its peak, Blockbuster had more than 9,000 stores worldwide, but Netflix and the streaming revolution eventually sent those familiar blue-and-yellow signs into the history books. Today, just one Blockbuster survives, in Bend, Oregon, where you can still browse the shelves and rent a movie the old-fashioned way. Just remember: Be kind, rewind!
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Until tomorrow, try to remember what you’re forgetting!