Coincidence?

The mind works in very mysterious ways. Isn't it interesting that when most memory loss begins, the short-term or most recent memories are lost, but the long-term memories remain intact?

Mom has had several incidents of short-term memory loss. Or maybe it's simply the aging process. Some days, it seems that she is fine... a normal 83 year old woman. On other days, I worry about what I perceive as "holes" in her memory. However, her memories from childhood do not appear to be affected.

For example, we were watching the WGN news today. One of the stories they had on was about an author who did a biography on Al Capone. Al Capone was a famous Chicago gangster/mobster from the Depression/Prohibition Era. The St. Valentine's Day Massacre is attributed to him. On February 14, 1929, seven people (5 of them members of a rival North side Irish gang) were allegedly killed by members of Al Capone's South side Italian gang.

As this story was being told, Mom says, "I'm pretty sure that Al Capone came to the farm when I was a kid." What???????????

The story goes that Harry D. (neighbor and related through marriage) brings some friends from Chicago to the farm when Mom was about 7 years old. This would be around 1934. They arrive in a Model T car. They have lots of gifts that they bring to the family... pots, pans, dishes, etc. Apparently, Harry D. had robbed a bank and met this man when in prison. Mom says that she didn't know who Al Capone was at the time, but in later years put it together after seeing his picture. They must have had a good visit, because Mom remembers all the adults drinking and laughing together.

What an awesome memory! Who could predict that Mom would later move to Chicago and end up living on the South side? Life is certainly filled with coincidence, isn't it?