"Flocks of the memories of the day draw near the dovecoat doors of sleep" Alice Meynell (1847-1922) I am often asked how I remember all the little and trivial details of my life to write this blog. Oddly enough, much of it comes from dreams. I've always been a great sleeper and, at times, it is during these periods of slumber that these memories come racing through my mind. If I have the wherewithal, I will suddenly awaken and reach for the little red notebook I keep next to my side of the bed and jot down a few salient words to jog my memory the next day. The alternative is to wake the next morning and just hope I remembered my dream, a technique that often meets with failure. The paring process of the brain that comes with aging can often be merciless and frustrating. The other reliable mechanism is jaunts into our basement which is filled with boxes and cartons. There's a whole section of this vas