Remember Nothing

Nora Ephron’s latest book is called I Remember Nothing, but in it she seems to remember a lot. However, I have no idea if what she remembers is accurate and it doesn’t really matter.

I’m working on a book right now for a well-known client (to both us and to the world). Hannah and I interviewed him/her for many many hours and we also interviewed several other people who knew and worked with him, as well as family members. We have 1,000 pages of transcripts, more or less.

Here’s the thing: nobody agrees on any of the facts. Well hardly any of them.

When did this happening actually happen? 1966? 1969? 1971? How many locations did we have in 1968? Was it 7, 9, 5? Who was at that big event? Can’t remember if it was Bill or Jim or Sally or Sheila. When were the kids born? When did we take that trip to Quebec? Did I work at the department store before I worked at the gas station as a kid?

Just trying to come up with the storyline is enough to make one’s head explode.

Nobody remembers anything accurately. Just keep that in mind next time you read anything or listen to anybody talk about anything.