Thanks for the invite NJoy and comments by all. I've read that the subconscious mind "records" everything experienced, felt, thought, and imagined, and connects some factual data with some other pertinent and identifying senses such as smells or sounds, classifies them as possible clues to dangerous situations, or pleasurable ones, or seemingly insignificant ones, then files them away with priorities for recall based on whether they were associated with life threatening happenings or less critical ones like pleasant experiences and with "results" or "concluding data" so it can recall them when similar circumstances happen and provide quick solutions or relevant input for response calculation to aid in survival, avoidance of injury or hurt, or help in acquisition of beneficial gain such as food, water, or less basic pleasures. As people age, and for as yet not fully understood reasons, the brain remains more effective at recall of memories and data from the more distant past and less able to recall recently acquired data. My guess is that the brain "values" long term, possibly repeated and results related, experiential data as more valid, or confirmed, than shorter term, less evaluated, less confirmed "facts" or data, so does not put in place as many recall triggers, but that is just my guess. The mind may also subconsciously recognize its age, projected survivability, and put lower priority on recalling information that is not directly related to greater survivability or gain. Does it really matter what I had for lunch if I am not hungry or sick? However, the smell of that milk, or it's texture as it is being placed in my mouth, may trigger a memory of similar smelling or feeling milk consumed 30 years ago and 45 minutes before I got very, very sick and recall "sour milk made me sick...don't drink this...spit it out...NOW!" data. What I watched on TV 4 hours ago will probably not help me live to tomorrow more easily or effectively, so the mind may "forget" it by putting very low priority "flags" on it. It is known that smells are the most effective triggers in stimulating recall. An example from my life would be that of freshly baked bread. My mother baked bread weekly and the first loaf out was eaten with fresh butter and honey by the whole family...good, safe, pleasant, fulfilling memory...more than surviving...about physical and emotional survival and thriving...a grounding memory. When I pass a bakery and sense that smell, I immediatly visualize my mother's face and other family, the details of the kitchen, and mentally and emotionally and with my mental "senses" "see" and once again "re-live" that wonderful, safe, happy experience (good healing experience as we all need)...all triggered by a smell.
Something about your past exposure to the Phillips set a recall "flag", or flags, so your mind could retrieve it with certain other simulus (sp?...does it matter, did you understand what I meant?) present...maybe a sound, an emotional state, indirectly associated environmental conditions, smell, light, background imagery or seemingly unrelated other data present when you saw the image...some other triggers that retreived the identifying "Mama's and Papas" data bit. The human mind is awesomely designed and made and quite complex and helps us not only survive, but thrive and experience beyond what can be seen, smelled, heard, felt, or otherwise sensed. Some theologians will say that this "tape" (or life recording "written", in "The Book of Life" by a God who is without time limitations and sees and knows everything across eternity (Psalm 139:16)), will "play" back on "Judgement Day" for all to see, and everything that motivated you, or that you thought, or you have ever experienced in any way will be laid open for all to see and God to judge. Forgive the imagry, but it may be like sitting in a universally accessible drive in theater with one huge screen with todays special viewing of "The Life and Times of LeedTex...His Inner Most Thoughts". What a scary yet exciting prospect! To whom much is given will much be required. Who knows what evil [or good] lurks in the hearts of men...only 'The Shadow' knows". :)
