Memory Loss, Middle Age and …
Posted: Sunday, November 29, 2009
by Brianna Popsickle
"No, Bob. I'm sure it was a Wednesday because you golfed the next day."
"You know sweetie I think you're right, it was a Wednesday, it was the seventeenth of May."
I rolled my eyes at my husband. He stared back at me suppressing a yawn.
We hadn't seen Bob and Mary for some time, and they hadn't changed a bit. They had the annoying habit of debating over the exact time, day and year of every story they told. I wanted to scream, "It doesn't matter what day it was! Just tell the story!"
I'm talking about memory loss. I've read it sneaks up on you like middle age and I'm learning about it first-hand.
The other day I entered my membership number into the computer at the gym. My picture is supposed to pop up on their screen so they can verify who I am. The girl behind the counter looked at the picture then looked at me.
"Sorry, wrong number. Try again," she said.
I entered my number again.
"Nope, sorry," she grinned.
Suddenly it hit me. I wasn't keying in my membership number, I was entering the code for my automatic garage door opener! I blurted out what I'd done. The girl gave me one of those you poor thing' looks. Thank God I hadn't told her for a brief instant I had visions of my garage door going up and down. She would have thought I had completely lost it.
It isn't just the gym incident. I've been experiencing other memory loss' moments. For some time now I've been calling my son Casey.
"Casey, time for dinner. Casey what time are you going out?"
Our dog's name is Casey.
Sometimes I'll find myself in the basement wondering what the hell I'm doing there. I'll remember eventually, but never until I'm back upstairs.
Shopping is the worst. I make a list only to leave it at home. I try to recreate it in my mind which usually results in my husband asking, " Why do we have three packages of Philadelphia Cream Cheese and who's going to eat all this cereal?"
I've purchased a mountain of cloth reusable grocery bags I leave in the van, but forget to take them into the store with me. I never realize until it's too late and I've unloaded everything on the counter.
The other day the cashier asked, "Will you be needing bags today?" I started to explain that I was as green' as the next person and had purchased cloth bags but
"So you'll be needing bags?" she said snidely.
"Yes," I mumbled, feeling personally responsible for the state of the planet.
"What's that?" she asked in her best bull-bitchin voice.
"Yes!" I yelled, my face turning red. "I'm a terrible person, I need bags!"
The other day I was using my debit card to pay for groceries. I entered my PIN number once, it was denied. I entered it a second time, denied. If it's entered incorrectly a third time, they think it's stolen and it's cancelled.
Strike three! I was out! I noticed the people behind me in line looking at me suspiciously. I wanted to explain, "It's not a lack of money. I have money. It's a lack of memory."
Finding the van after shopping is the real challenge. Maybe instead of having the complimentary coffee service inside the store they should have it in the parking lot. We could enjoy a coffee while strolling and mingling along with everyone else struggling to find their vehicle. Better yet, I think they should have those people who do their power walking inside the mall, greet people as they pull into their parking spots, meet them at the door on the way out and walk them to their vehicle.
I used to pride myself in picking out the perfect birthday card weeks in advance, and timing the mailing so it would arrive on just the right day. Now I'm lucky if I remember birthdays at all, and if I do purchase a card I either forget where I've put it or forget to mail it.
What's really scary is being in the middle of a sentence, stopping, and realizing I have no idea what I was talking about or what I was about to say. My daughter is on to me.
"Mom, you're doing it again," she'll say in her most indignant voice.
The only thing making me feel better about this memory loss thing is realizing I'm not alone. It's happening to my husband as well. He told me his debit card had been cancelled the other day after he entered his number incorrectly three times. He seemed bothered by it.
I looked at him with concern and said, "Three times? You're kidding. What's wrong with you?"
I'm not heartless. I told him about the incident with my debit card. Eventually.
But there's more. Three letters have been returned which he mailed but hadn't put a stamp on. He usually walks to work but on a few occasions he's driven in, only to walk home.
"Where's the van?" I'll ask, at which point he walks back to get it.
"No Mary, it was a Sunday. We expected your parents at noon and they arrived fifteen minutes late. You remember."
Bob and Mary were on to a new story. My husband was almost asleep.
Where would it all end?
One thing was certain; this evening was never going to end.
I topped up my wine glass, settled back into the sofa and smiled.
What did I care? By tomorrow this evening would be nothing but a memory, and the way things were going, I will have forgotten all about it.
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Top-level comments on this article: (6 total)I forgot what I was going to tell you!Well think about it Paul, and get back to me! :)An elderly Floridian called 911 on her cell phone to report that her car has been broken into. She is hysterical as she explains her situation to the dispatcher: "They've stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the accelerator!" she cried.The dispatcher said, "Stay calm. An officer is on the way."A few minutes later, the officer radios in. "Disregard." He says. "She got in the back-seat by mistake."Three sisters, ages 92, 94 and 96, live in a house together. One night the96-year-old draws a bath. She puts her foot in and pauses. She yells to the other sisters, "Was I getting in or out of the bath?" The 94-year-old yells back, "I don't know. I'll come up and see." She starts up the stairs and pauses "Was I going up the stairs or down?" The 92-year-old is sitting at the kitchen table having tea listening to her sisters. She shakes her head and says, "I sure hope I never get that forgetful, knock on wood." She then yells, "I'll come up and help both of you as soon as I see who's at the door."I'm not buying the Demon's Nightmare 'disturbed person' comment you made. You Paul Schroeder, are hilarious! Thanks for getting back to me.whom else other than a 'saint' would suffer such brutal attacks from the 'dark side'???????Only a very disturbed person who flirts with the beast of madness by focusing and writing about the 'dark side'.......
What a hoot - I remember back in my 20s (yes, I really do remember) going in one door of Macy's. Shopping and going out and my car was not there... Macy's is a square building in the middle of a parking lot and not connected to anything else. Can you imagine how long it took to find the vehicle? When the Lord was passing out direction finders I must have been in the bathroom - my sister, however, got TWO - how embarassing that has been all these years! MarijoI feel and share your pain Marijo! I tell my husband I need a GPS for shopping at the mall.
Hi Brianna.Your article is a real hoot! And the comments are great too. It all makes for a very fun read.I make out shopping lists and have to put them right on top of my purse if I want to remember to take them. I sure hope I never forget my purse ... oh wait ... I've done that already.Thanks for the fun,DianneAny time Dianne! Thanks for reading!
hahah so trueSad but true. Nice to know we're not alone though, right? Thanks for commenting.
When you stop to think about all the numbers we have to remember just to live our daily lives, it's astonding! The fact that we can remember them only half the time , at our age, is remarkable.I like the way you think Ella! We may be getting a little forgetful, but we're still remarkable! We're not getting older, we're getting better, right? :) Thanks for reading and commenting.
Sometimes forgetfulness comes from age and also when you don't get enough sleep. At least that is what happens to me. It is 3:40 AM. Does that tell you something about my sleep patterns. There are many other medical factors that can contribute to memory loss. Enjoyed your article. By the way I have a hard time remembering all the pin numbers too.Thanks for sharing.Linda DSounds like you sleep as well as I do Linda. Maybe lack of sleep does account for some of my forgetfulness. (I prefer to think that, than think it's due to my age) Thanks for reading and commenting.
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