I may be losing my mind. I’m actually a bit scared.
I was driving up St. Mary’s Street recently and passed by one of DJ’s best friend’s house. I looked at the house and could picture the girl who lived there, but her name escaped me. I couldn’t come up with it – a kid that my daughter hangs out with a lot! A kid I really like!
I glanced in the back seat at Michelle – “What’s the girl’s name that is DJ’s best friend at school?” I inquired in a panic.
“Kimmey?”, she asked as if I had just fallen out of a tree.
“Yea. Yea. Kimmey.”
She frowned. I sped up.
Three days later, as I was trying to fall asleep, it popped in my head, You don’t know your pin number. The four digit code I’d had since I was 16 was gone, lost in a cerebral brain fart. I thought I’d remembered it and dozed on off. The next day I realized I had not remembered. I drove up to the ATM and punched in a series of four digits. I was denied my cash.
I punched in a different code. The machine scoffed.
Time three and time four were no better. I called the 800 number on the back of my debit card. Apparently no one, including myself, knew that number. It’s encoded in the strip on the card. I held the card to my forehead – to no avail. I was about to lose something that brought me much comfort. It was like I had forgotten my child’s birthday.
What in the heck is going on? Do I have a brain tumor? Is early onslaught Alzheimer’s headed my way? Hardening of the arteries? A nervous breakdown? I got no idea.
A friend suggested that maybe I was on overload. Can that cause you to forget things that should be embedded into your brain?
I’ve been out-of-town some portion of every weekend since late May. On Saturday, we got home at 11:30 pm from a great overnight at the lake. On Sunday I taught Sunday School, mowed, edged, and blew the yard, cleaned out the gutters and swept off the roof, rode bikes with Michelle, took two to the pool, helped a friend move a table, shopped for groceries, cooked dinner for the extended family, knocked out four loads of clothes for the four-week summer camper, addressed six thank you notes for DJ and wrote two blog posts. I snuggled with my girls and put them to bed. Finally, I sat down and drank a beer.
As I was falling asleep, I remembered my pin.
I guess I’m suffering from brain delay. It’s all still in there, just going to take a few days to pull it out.
Mom
/ August 15, 2012I can relate! Names have always escaped me. That is not a test for me. Directions are beyond me. That also won’t tell us if I’m still in there. BUT…if I forget to lock the door, I’ve had it! Sometimes the words that I want come later and I”m wonderful at supplying the word that someone else needs, just not always the one I am looking for at the time. Sometimes Wayne and I like to play, let’s tell this story together, as do some of my friends. Being busy does make a difference. Sometimes your mind just gets on overload. That means you need a break and some rest. Sleep is a wonderful medication for the memory. Remember, we have to take care of OUR old brains. Don’t want them to move out on us.
Evie Lichti
/ August 15, 2012You’re much too young for “old-timers”. Chalk this one up to over-load, get some rest and see how it is in the morning!!
Aunt Susan
/ August 16, 2012You addressed the mail for your teenager????? What she broke both hands at the same time? Really. you need some cool clear air and water! Have a good time.
Danny Tanner
/ August 16, 2012clarify – I read the addresses out – she did the writing. Our address book is almost indeciferable by anyone but me (or Lisa who started it).
GodCountryGolf
/ August 16, 2012Dear Danny~
You have just described what we (at Fort Bragg) affectionately call “widow brain.” Numbers, passwords, appointments seem to fly right out sometimes. Thankfully, they do, eventually, come back. 🙂 Hang in there!
Danny Tanner
/ August 18, 2012its been two and half years – i should have this down by now.
GodCountryGolf
/ August 19, 2012Grief is a mighty strange companion. The holes in our hearts (and our widow/er brains) are here to stay…but, God is good. He blesses us with a sense of humor, so we can laugh at ourselves. And He will see us through. Have a delightful Sunday!
Danny Tanner
/ August 22, 2012Thanks!