Summary

In October 2003, Alice is working with a graduate student, Dan, who is getting married. Alice can generally recall reference details for almost any published study but struggles to come up with a specific citation. Later, she looks over her to-do list for the day and sees the name “Eric.” She can't recall what she meant. The head of the psychology department is Eric Wellman but she can't remember anything she was supposed to talk to him about. She decides it's time to see the doctor.

Several family members are gathering for Alice's birthday dinner, including Alice's daughter Anna and son Tom. Anna and her husband, Charlie, are trying to have a child. When Alice sees Anna having a martini, she knows she must not be pregnant yet. Tom is a medical student headed for a career as a cardiothoracic surgeon. Anna...