forgetting to remember

last night i was rereading stories from 50 essays, and as you know, i came across "on keeping a notebook" by joan didion. usually when i like things i read in a book i highlight them. and i liked everything i read in this essay, but thought it would be a tad excessive if i highlighted each line.

so i've tried to pick my favorite one(s)...and i thought i'd post them here:

-In describing a notebook:

we are talking about something private, bits of the mind's string too short to use, an indiscriminate and erratic assemblage with meaning only for its marker. And sometimes the marker has difficulty with the meaning.

-Talking about notebooks being reminders of our past selves and keeping that person in check with our current self:

I think we are well advised to keep on nodding terms with the people we used to be whether we find them attractive company or not. Otherwise they turn up unannounced and surprise us.

-My absolute favorite:

We forget all too soon the things we thought we could never forget.