More Meetings - Better Memory???

[Val Pakaluk]

More Learning Better Memory???

The Meetings and Courses Office is the first and last stop made by many students and scientists visiting CSHL. Whether they are picking up their meeting/course packets or dropping off their room keys, they arrive at all hours of the day, often jetlagged, disoriented or simply exhausted. That being said it is still amazing what people tend to leave behind. Jackets, credit cards, cell phones, you name it! As a courtesy, we've even mailed a few things to Japan; one in particular that I recall was a jacket that a meeting attendee had borrowed from her sister just for this visit to CSHL and the United States!

But I think the incident that I found amusing is when I saw this beautiful, zippered, black leather Kenneth Cole appointment book. It had been lying around for some time, but one day I decided to browse through the papers inside and came up with some reprinted articles and a resume, tucked under some blank sheets of paper. After checking our database, I located someone with a similar name as appeared on the resume, so I sent an email describing the portfolio with a minimum of information, asking for further identification. Well, the owner was so elated when he responded. He explained that he knew he had lost it six months ago but he could not remember where on earth he had left it. Turns out, he had attended a meeting here. The name of the meeting, you ask? Learning and Memory, Slightly ironic, I thought.