Sunday Snippet: The Am I Losing It? Edition

Talked my lake friend Mo the other day. We covered everything–health, weather, writing, reading, her lake news, my city news… After we hung up, I thought of something I’d meant to tell her, but the oven timer was dinging, supper was ready and I figured I’d tell her next time I talked to her. I’ve talked to her, but I still can’t remember what it was I wanted to tell her… and that seems to be a theme in our lives.

I took a silly online test for dementia yesterday–the results of which were, “You have the memory of an elephant.”  The test had no idea how frequently I say, “I can’t remember… ” There are so many of those moments anymore. I can’t remember why I came back to the guest room closet… so I leave, get halfway down the hall toward my office and then remember, turn around and go back for whatever it was.

I can’t remember whether I got something out to thaw for supper–check the kitchen. Could be chicken or salmon thawing in the sink, could be nothing. So I either shrug and accept that dinner is out, or I check the freezer for something that looks good. It may or may not be what Husband I originally discussed having that night. Inevitably, I forget something when I go to the grocery store, even if I have list, and more often than not, it is the one thing I went to the store to get. <eye roll>

Here’s a biggie–I can’t remember if I shut the garage door–that thought can occur anywhere from one block away from home to parking at my destination. I have been known to drive around the block to look in the case of the former or call my neighbor in the case of the latter. Honestly, there’s a chance that I may have mentioned this here before, but…well… I can’t remember.

It’s bad, kids. Liz and I are constantly beginning a sentence with I can’t remember if I told you this or not, but… or stop me if I’ve told you this. I don’t know about Liz, but I generally let her go ahead and tell me whatever it is because she’ll be well into it before I remember that she has indeed already told me. We both know that we’d damn well better write it down if a plot line or a few lines of dialogue or a story idea comes to mind–those things are fleeting at best. I’ve even been known to make a list on my phone of things I want to talk to her about when we get together, just so I don’t forget anything. It helps.

I still can’t remember what it was I wanted to tell Mo… damn.

Speaking of lists, they are mandatory. I’ve taken to using one of my River’s Edge map notebooks to keep reminders, to-dos, and a list of things that need to get done each day. It’s been a boon, because, honestly, I can’t remember jack. I write down words, appointments, anything at all to do with anytime at all I plan on being awake. In addition, I make lists in my phone and set reminders to do things–like write this blog.

All that said, I can and do remember some things. Passwords. Even if I’ve changed them recently, they stick. And I have a blue zillion of them. I don’t have to remember phone numbers anymore because my phone does that for me, but I can remember my phone number from when I was kid: LI5-3226. I can’t, however, remember, when it changed from LI5 to 545. I can remember grammar rules, except for lie and lay, which I think is damn good for an editor of a certain age. However, thank God for CMOS, Webster, Google, and house style guides. I can remember film titles and actors, but not whether they are currently dead or alive.

I remember faces, but not names and frankly, I’ve finally accepted that about myself and feel no shame in confessing, “Please forgive me, your name again?”

Okay…I had a point here… but I can’t remember what it was. Maybe it was simply that not remembering is a symptom of… what? A busy life. A racing mind? A crazy world? Too much caffeine or Diet Coke? Or…heaven forbid, aging? Whatever it is… I’ve got it. In spades. Do you? What are you tricks to remember things that need remembering? (I’m not sure there’s a cure for remembering useless information, so let’s not go there.)

Gratitude for This Week: Brother came through bypass surgery and is healing; got my permanent crown and it was practically painless; the snow is melting; sunshine! and Del and Beth’s story is coming along. 

Stay well, stay safe, speak out because we must make our voices heard, choose kindness always, and most of all, mes amis, stay grateful!