The Memory of You still hangs in the Air

As much as I'd like to deny it, in many ways what we do and how we remember it are huge parts of who we are. In cases of Alzheimer's many relatives say that their loved ones are still in there but I don't see how.

Everything you experience changes you. You are in effect a compilation of things you've done, people you've met, and the effects of those things on you. If, for example you met someone who drastically changed your views and then forgot that person. Would your views change back or would you simply forget you changed at all? That change is an important aspect of you and if it was lost how could it be said that you are the same person.

It's understandable that you could, at core be the same person but without the memories. In that way it could be said that without your experiences or the people in your life you are a purer form of yourself because you lack the memories of past performances.

take that Goffman!