In this article, the author describes a transformation in his perspective which was brought about by a humble familial gesture that evolved into a powerful literacy event--one that caused him to reconsider his beliefs about memory and its role in shaping how each person makes sense of his or her life. As the author reflects on what happened, it becomes apparent to him that the significance of this event extends beyond his family and himself. Although the immediate focus of this article is upon matters that are very personal in nature, his aim, ultimately, is to underscore the potential impact of new knowledge about how human memory works on classroom practices related to language and literacy.