Read the given story and classify it as 'imagined', 'recalled', or 'retold'. If a story is imagined, the person who wrote the story is making it up, pretending they experienced it. If a story is recalled, the person who wrote the story really experienced it and is recalling it from memory. If a story is retold, it is a real memory like the 'recalled' stories, but written down much later after previously writing a 'recalled' story about the same events. So, recalled stories and retold stories will be fairly similar, in that they both were real experiences for the writer. Imagined stories have a more linear flow and contain more commonsense knowledge, whereas recalled stories are less connected and contain more specific concrete events. Additionally, higher levels of self reference are found in imagined stories. Between recalled and retold stories, retold stories flow significantly more linearly than recalled stories, and retold stories are significantly higher in scores for cognitive processes and positive tone.

[Q]: About four weeks ago, my wife and I realized that our lives were lacking any sort of spontaneity. It seemed like we were stuck in a rut. Then, we both remembered an online friend we had met via social media. Although we had never met in person before, we decided to meet up with them after this budding online relationship. My wife suggested that we go downtown for dinner and drinks. I messaged the person, and they said they'd love to join. Actually, it seemed like they were too enthusiastic about the meetup. This led to some high anxiety on my part, since I tend to be skeptical. I asked myself questions like "Is this invitation socially acceptable?" and "Why is this person so eager to meet us?". Luckily, my wife was able to talk out the doubt and reduce my apprehension toward the situation. So, we got ready, my wife being a little late as usual, and took a taxi downtown to meet our new friend. As we arrived to the restaurant, our new friend and us both got out of the taxis at the same time, so we had a good laugh. From then on, the night seemed to go rather smoothly. We talked about our lives and our interests, and there seemed to be a real friendship budding. After a few drinks, we decided to call it a night and exchanged more contact information. We decided that we'll see each other in a few weeks. Overall, it was great. I'm so glad my wife calmed me down. In the process, we gained a new friend and reignited our social life.
[A]: imagined


[Q]: I'm still thinking about how I could have done something different that time. I don't even know why. It's still been pretty recent, one month, from when it happened. I felt, at the time, that I had to tell him something, I guess. An old friend of mine's Mother had passed away. While he was torn about the whole thing, it made me think about the times I spent with her. She took good care of me even though I wasn't technically family and we had a lot of good times together. That was a long time ago, though, and that probably made it easier for me to settle with the fact that I could not even make time to attend her funeral. I was surprised by how he handled my rejection well enough, but also how I was even able to accept it afterwards. I guess I'm realizing a part of myself that lacks the empathy that I wish I had. So, running through events quickly in my head, I probably was thinking about the significance or connection I had to the event but instead should have been thinking about how my friend would feel about my attendance. I think this event gave me a good perspective on what I am and what I think I should become. I need to be able to hold the people that I care for, and the people that care for me, closer than I do. Maybe there was really no way I could attend the funeral. Maybe I couldn't repay the people I love. But, I think I could have realized and felt that what I had done was unusual.
[A]: imagined


[Q]: A few months ago my husband and I took a quick trip to Walt Disney World together. It is my favorite place to visit because it reminds me of being a kid. I was really excited to arrive and I couldn't wait to do all the parks together. I was a little disappointed that we weren't staying longer and that we were just making it a weekend trip. I was looking forward to spending quality time with my husband, just he and I, without the kids. We never get to spend time alone together, so this was going to be fun. The most memorable part of the trip and the most surprising for me was when we were in Mexico, in Epcot and my husband ordered a margarita. When it came up it looked like there was an ant floating in it. He said to the server that there was an ant in it and she said there was supposed to be. It was a special type of mexican margarita with "ant salt" and the whole rim of the glass was actually salted with crushed up ants. I was really surprised that they sold drinks like that, but even more surprised when my husband ended up drinking the entire thing and ordering a second one. He asked me if I wanted to try it, but I passed. We laughed about it and I know that it is something that I will never forget. It is burned into my memory. Although it was super hot and humid the whole time we were there because it was at the height of summer, I still had a wonderful time. I can't wait to do it again soon.
[A]:
retold


