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December 3, 2009

Lee Ward: 12/06/09 — Memory problems persist

Anonymous The Daily Independent Thu Dec 03, 2009, 09:16 AM EST

For a couple of months, my memory has been terrible.

I have wanted to write about that, but I kept forgetting.

Finally, I wrote a note to myself, which helped solve that memory problem.

I blame being sick for a long time this year, plus being anesthetized twice this year, whether those two things deserve blame or not. By gosh, somebody has to take some blame.

Here are a few examples of how poor my memory has been:

‰ I decided a good Christmas gift for a cold-natured friend would be a Snuggie, a blanket with arms. I ordered her one from a catalog. I guess I forgot I’d ordered it because I ended up with three of them, all of which I ordered from a catalog.

I found an easy solution, though: I sent one back and kept two — one for my friend and one for myself.

‰ When I started sorting out my stockpiled Christmas gifts, I found I’d bought four gifts for the same person. Again, a couple of days after I ordered Item A, I forgot and ordered Item B, which I forgot about a few days later, which is when I ordered Item C, and so on.

There was an easy solution for this forgetfulness, too. I’m saving half of her loot for her birthday.

For some memory mistakes, however, there is no real fix. The only thing you can do is keep it a secret. I have already told on myself for forgetting these things, so there’s no reason to hide the facts now.

‰ I got in the office one morning and found a note I’d left myself, reminding me to have bloodwork done that week. I left in a flurry, trying to get there to have blood drawn before it was time for my next appointment of the day. By the time I got to my car, I realized I’d read a leftover note: I had had blood drawn the day before.

‰ Different day, same problem, nearly. I ran across a gift I’d bought for someone at work. It was stuck in the back of a closet and I’d forgotten about it, so I brought it in to give to her.

The next day, I remembered finding the gift, but didn’t remember giving it to her, so I started trying to figure out where it went. Did I leave it at home? Did it fall out of my purse on the way into the office? Did I stick it in a desk drawer?

When I realized it had already been delivered, I started to have serious doubts about my own sanity.

Then I remembered that psychiatrists say if you question your own sanity, you are probably sane.

That is a comfort. Besides, I’m not crazy, just forgetful.

LEE WARD can be reached at lward@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2661.

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