The new vaccine was heralded as a medical miracle, promising those who were inoculated that it would forestall the physical effects of aging. People flocked in droves to their physicians, eager to part with the $1000 required for this fountain-of-youth in a vial. Five years of laboratory testing had proven that it worked amazingly well, with people's bodies remaining exactly where they were at the time of vaccination, never aging one day more. There was just one drawback to the miracle elixir, the new drug not only prevented physical aging, it also prevented the accumulation of any new memories whether good or bad. Those who were vaccinated remembered everything about their lives up into the moment of injection, but the ability to process new memories was somehow blocked, and there could be no more sad or happy memories committed to mind for safekeeping. People were so eager to retain their youth forever that they didn't bother to consider the ramifications of this side-effect, what it was going to mean to them later on, but perhaps they should have. Imagine a life where future events would come and go like bolts of lightning, just photos from a camera that your memory could not recall.
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I'm linking up with Megg at Sunday Scribblings
where the prompt this week is "immunity".
where the prompt this week is "immunity".
And at Two Shoes Tuesday
where the prompt this week is "old"
I wouldn't like a life like that ...
ReplyDeleteMe either, Green Speck, not once you start to consider what is lost by being frozen in time.
DeleteYou would need to record every event of your future life in video and sound...later you could scrub the bad and only have the happy memories to view. You see I am trying to work it out, it can't be that bad I have shares in the company.
ReplyDeleteI see, a salesman for the drug firm, they don't have the best of reputations, you know! :-) But if we magically erased all the bad memories, how would we measure what is good?!
DeleteI can only hope that you have posted a fiction.
ReplyDeleteYes, thankfully Altonian. At first glance it is an enticing offer, but imagine a world where you couldn't learn anything new and retain it, not even a new relationship or a new place... could never operate a new cellphone either! :-)
Deleteunfortunately, I've already had the shot...at least the part where I can't remember anything...
ReplyDeleteI suspect I might have accidentally been "needlestruck" too, gsb, but the youthful body part is definitely not taking, unfortunately!
DeleteOh wow -- what a fascinating, and frightening, thought.
ReplyDeleteMost certainly it is, Louise! Imagine those poor folks who opted to go for it, and only then realized what the true cost to their lives would be!
DeleteIntriuging write :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Tigerbrite! It's definitely worth contemplating!
DeleteWhat a terrifying thought..improving the body takes a second in comparison to how long it takes to work and grow a mind..never a trade worth making.,
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely right Jae Rose, I can endure a decrepit body, but the thought of a failing memory or confused mind, terrifies me!
DeleteSuch a horrible thought! I can't even imagine not being able to remember so much of my life.
ReplyDeleteNicely done!
The more I thought about it, the more frightening the concept became, Dana. I love learning new things, I love seeing and experiencing new things, but what fun would it be if two seconds after you walked away it was lost to you? Not much quality of life at all I think. We cannot live in the past.
DeleteWhat an interesting thought!!
ReplyDeletePearl
It's one of those things you have to think deeply on, Pearl. On the surface it sounds wonderful, but we don't realize that memory is responsible for far more than replaying happy times in our heads. What if you moved? You couldn't even find your own way home again!
DeleteMy brain is sooo full already; I can't remember stuff. lol
ReplyDeleteMine runs on overload too, though I suspect the congestion may not be as much stored information as it is a collection of marbles... though I have lost a few of those along the way! :-)
Deletethis wonderful short fiction tale had me thinking about Alzheimers,,I would love to cease the aging process, but I continue to learn and enjoy new things and I want to remember them all....
ReplyDeleteExactly JoAnne, imagine a life where you could never hope to learn anything new or to remember anything you experience, new relationships would be impossible to develop, amazing discoveries would flitter past and disappear. It sounds very sad to me, and yes Alzheimer's is the saddest, cruelest ending of all. :-(
DeleteNice post, Josie ~~ As an older person whose memorie is nearing full it would be nice to enjoy things without having to remember them. I am getting that way, almost like Kay, anyway even without medications.
ReplyDelete..
I know Jim, my memory isn't nearly as sharp as it once was, I must make myself notes for everything and then I forget to read them! :-) And to think as children we used to chuckle at our Grandma when she would mix up our names. I am lucky to remember names now! But for it to be impossible, not even worth an attempt, that would be downright tragic and very scary!
DeleteGreat story... but seriously? Who would ever want to give up new knowledge and experiences just to prolong living... that's not a life at all!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree, Brenda, but when you see all the women walking around with plastic faces and pretend boobies, I think it's pretty clear that many folks are willing to opt for a youthful appearance at any price!
DeleteSkillful and creative response to the post...
ReplyDeleteThank you for your encouragement, Berowne!
Delete