Chapter 7
The Law of Recall: Taking It from the Top
Memory itself is an internal rumor.
—George Santayana, philosopher
Think of summer and what comes to mind? Beaches, sunshine, vacationing, and … sharks? If you were reading this back in the summer of 2001, these carnivorous predators would likely have been at the top of your list. It all started in July of that year when eight-year-old Jessie Arbogast was swimming with cousins off the Pensacola coast one evening around sunset. Suddenly, a six and one-half foot, 200-pound bull shark engulfed Jessie in its mouth, biting the child’s thigh before clamping onto his right arm above the elbow. Jessie’s uncle rushed to action, grabbing the shark’s tail and giving it a determined tug to release Jessie from the deadly grip. Jessie was let loose and so was his arm, which remained in the shark’s mouth. A National Park Service Ranger dealt three deadly gunshots to the carnivore’s head, and the boy’s extremity was ultimately retrieved, where it was later reattached to his body.1 The horrific, unbelievable story seemed plucked from the silver screen, and the ensuing drama that unfolded was fodder for the evening news and morning paper. Reporters followed the story 24/7 as Jessie battled for his life, escaping the jowls of death only to find himself in a coma struggling for survival.
Just as Jessie’s story was capturing headlines and less than two weeks after the incident, two more found themselves victims of shark attacks on separate occasions. ...
