A man has a definite idea of "a year ago" which the child wants, just because he has had so frequently to execute that vague regressive movement by which the idea arises.

And though, as our actual point in time moves forward, the relative position of any given landmark is continually changing, the change easily adapts itself to that scheme of time-divisions which holds good for any present point.
Few of our recollections of remote events involve a definite reference to this system of landmarks.

The recollections of early life are, in the case of most people, so far as they depend on individual memory, very vaguely and imperfectly localized.

And many recent experiences which are said to be half forgotten, are not referred to any clearly assignable position in time.

One may say that in average cases definite localization characterizes only such supremely interesting personal experiences as spontaneously recur again and again to the mind.