In Memory of Memory

“And what is the use of a book,” thought Alice, “without pictures or conversations?”

—Lewis Carroll

Grandmother said, “He’s old enough to be told. Drink in the company of the living, drink as much as you like. But never drink with the dead.” I was bewildered, “How can you drink with the dead? I don’t understand.”

“Very easily,” grandmother replied. “Most of the time that’s what people do, they drink with the dead. Don’t do it. Drink a glass and a hundred years will pass. Drink another and another hundred will pass. Drink a third and it’s another hundred. By the time you leave, three hundred years will have passed and no one will recognize you, you’ll be out of joint with time.”

I thought she was trying to frighten me.

—Viktor Sosnora

“How awful!” said the ladies, “whatever do you find interesting in that?”

— Aleksandr Pushkin