The idea that my memory would start to fade as I aged didn’t come as a complete shock, but the speed and severity of it caught me off guard. I had dreamed that memory loss would first take away those painful recollections from my past and then gradually erase trivial details like the phone numbers and addresses from my life. Instead, I found myself repeatedly asking my kids the same questions, completely unable to recall their previous answers, as my mind swiftly shifted back to my endless to-do list. Before long, I couldn’t hold onto a phone number long enough to jot it down, and my children started teasing (at least I hope they were joking) about pinning an index card with my name and info inside my jacket for when I inevitably forgot where I was heading.
In an effort to manage my fading memory, I began carrying around a tiny cassette recorder to capture those fleeting thoughts—things like “avocado” or “doctor’s appointment,” which I desperately needed to remember. While this worked, it also served as a stark reminder of how poor my memory had become. One memorable moment occurred while driving my son to his Junior Assembly; I noticed his clothes were getting small, and I asked him to remind me to buy him new ones when we got home. Instead of owning up to my forgetfulness, he cheekily suggested, “Why don’t you record it?” Brilliant idea! I repeated my reminder into the recorder. Yet, just moments later, I caught a glimpse of him in the rearview mirror and asked again, “Can you remind me to buy you new clothes?” “You just said that 10 seconds ago,” he exclaimed. But kids have a way of exaggerating, so I didn’t take his word for it. Smartly, he recommended I replay the last recording.
What a wake-up call that was! No more than 15 seconds had passed, and I had completely forgotten about needing to buy him new clothes—a thought I had just expressed! (You might not be surprised to learn that I lost that cassette recorder—and its replacement, too).
My memory issues left me anxious about the possibility of developing Alzheimer’s disease, so I went to see my doctor. She asked whether I was forgetting short-term or long-term information. “Short-term,” I replied, “It’s like information is just passing through without even stopping for a chat.” She calmly reassured me, using her go-to phrase: “At your age, this is perfectly normal.” But I don’t see myself as being “that age,” which always feels like it’s at least a decade away.
Fortunately, I discovered I wasn’t alone in this struggle; my friends were grappling with similar memory fog. We were all juggling our kids’ activities, school project deadlines, pending RSVPs, and oh, what was that dish I planned to make for dinner? More often than not, I’d return from the grocery store without the one thing I had set out to buy, even with a list in hand.
One friend had a quirky method; she would tuck notes to herself in her bra, pulling them out at the store when needed. Anything she forgot would reemerge at night, ready for the next day. (Her reasoning? Cheaper than silicone implants!) Another friend opted for a more straightforward approach: she simply wrote reminders on the inside of her hand—the ultimate DIY PalmPilot.
We even started an unofficial competition among ourselves to share our most “airheaded” moments. I used to be the reigning champion until one friend admitted to using her car’s remote to try and summon the elevator at her office.
Eventually, I realized that laughter was the best medicine and chose to embrace my memory mishaps. After all, my Swiss-cheese brain has made me a great confidante for friends, and I’ve enjoyed re-reading beloved books, often forgetting the plot until I’m nearly finished.
In a moment of self-acceptance, I decided to celebrate my memory lapses by ordering a customized license plate that reads, “IFORGOT.” This has proven invaluable when I accidentally wander onto a military base or drive the wrong way down a one-way street. When I lose my car in a massive parking lot and need assistance finding it, the plate makes perfect sense once I reconnect with my vehicle.
If you’re navigating a similar journey, you might find helpful resources on topics like pregnancy and home insemination through sites like American Pregnancy or Make a Mom. You can also discover more insights in our other posts at Intracervical Insemination.
In summary, while memory can be elusive, laughter and camaraderie make the journey worthwhile. So, here’s to embracing our forgetful moments with a smile and a little humor.