That's sick some days I don't even remember my own birthday.

73SC wrote:

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I have to be honest Carl, that is scary.....

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Oh, I've been called Rainman more than once.....!

Some days it scares me too!  I don't ever recall a time I didn't do this. I still recall a lot of my classmates birthdays every year when they come around. My kids don't even roll their eyes any more when I say "today is so and so's birthday" and they have never heard of that person before!

I still know the combination for my locker padlock from high school, my dad's great aunt's phone number in Winnipeg (I haven't called that place in at least 30 years), all kinds of stuff like that.  The day I started my first parts job, the day I poured my garage pad for my very own workshop (1980), the day we brought home our brand new 72 Malibu when I was 14, the day I got my first new bicycle and on and on and on.....

Problem is, when I go to the store for eggs and milk, I have come home with a loaf of bread and never got what I went for.      I'm serious, it's happened.

The brain is a strange thing.

However, I don't recall everything numerical.

There is an autistic boy in Morris who has total recall, like Rainman. I didn't believe it could be, but it's easy to prove.

One day someone finally introduced me to him. I had seen him, know his parents but never spoken. When I met him, the first thing he asked me was "Mr Stevenson, when's your birthday?" I said "I won't tell you unless you will always remember it" and he said "I will." I said "October 10th"

About 6 months to a year later I happened to meet him at the post office.  He said "Hi Mr Stevenson" and I replied "David, when's my birthday"?  He didn't pause a fraction of a second before he replied "October 10th".  I was speechless.

 

This boy apparently also memorizes movie scripts too.

Another funny story about him. And please understand, I am not making fun of autism---

I have a very good friend who lives in Morris. Actually, friends with his whole family.

Morris is about 1300 people I think. One day, my buddies mom is at home when David walks up to the door, walks right in and says "Mrs B-----, do you have a piano"? She knows him, of course, and says, "yes, it's in the living room". "David, what are you doing?"

He says, "I'm counting pianos in Morris". He was going door to door and counting pianos.

50-25-43
My lock combo from junior high/high school. I actually still have the lock somewhere. I can't remember dates like you do Carl, but i still remember the old plate number on my dad's car. I do know all the plates on the cars we currently have.

I have never forgotten my first experience with an older GM parts guy, a few years before I started in GM parts.

His son was a friend of mine and I was building an engine. It was evening, no place to get parts. I needed the retainer that goes on the oil pump driveshaft. The son and I went to see his dad to ask if he had one at the dealership (son had a key to the building) and he simply said "3764554, it's in row B, section 2, box 5"!!! Of course when we went there it was exactly correct!

That was the first GM part number I memorized and to this day when I see his son I will still ask him what the part number is for the oil pump driveshaft retainer!

I never witnessed it but people say he could add columns of numbers faster in his head than most people could do with a calculator.

Carl Stevenson wrote:

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This boy apparently also memorizes movie scripts too.

Another funny story about him. And please understand, I am not making fun of autism---

I have a very good friend who lives in Morris. Actually, friends with his whole family.

Morris is about 1300 people I think. One day, my buddies mom is at home when David walks up to the door, walks right in and says "Mrs B-----, do you have a piano"? She knows him, of course, and says, "yes, it's in the living room". "David, what are you doing?"

He says, "I'm counting pianos in Morris". He was going door to door and counting pianos.

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I had a client in who was helping his brother with funeral arrangements for their dad.  This chap was described to me as a savant...number thing.  He calculated and recalculated the contract for me in his head as decisions were made and unmade.  I looked at his brother who assured me that there was no need to check because he was correct every time.  For fun he divided a 9 digit number by a 4 digit number in seconds.  People are just amazing.

 

You guys are wierd, need help, maybe some drugs.... haha sorry just jealous, I can't remember what I did last week let alone 35 years ago. I can remember the stuff I did maybe but never can put dates to it, I am impressed actually Carl ! i used to have the numerical memory back in the parts day though, I could remember every part no for a smallblock engine no problem, and if I ordered a part for a customer like maybe a wierd escutcheon or something , I would remember that part no for a long time. 3933964 small block v cover gasket... its comin back !!!! Scary !

Wow Carl I could sure use you when my wife says what day is it today......then I know I'm in trouble.