Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Don't Tell Me. I Remember. Wait, I've Got It!


My daughter Christine, who is a nurse, has been worried about me because some of our conversations go like this.

Christine: "The truck broke down. Can you drive me to work tomorrow?"

Me: "Oh sure, hey do you want to see my new blog entry?"

Christine: "That's great Mom. So, I'll be ready to go at  8:30."

Me: "Go where?"

Christine: "To work. In the morning. I need you to drive me to work."

Me: "Okay, that's fine. What time?"

She was afraid I was losing my short-term and long-term memory. Any kind of memory in fact.

Anyway, today she came downstairs and said she wanted to test me. I told her, "It isn't that I don't remember what you say, it is just I am thinking of something else at the time you talk to me or I get distracted by something."

Christine: "Just humor me."

Me: "Okay."

Christine: "I'm going to say three words. Try to remember them and I'll ask you what they are in ten minutes. The words are: dog, car, man."

I immediately picture a dog in a car with a man driving and say, "Okay, I got it."

Ten minutes later she asked what the words were and I rattled them off: dog, car, man. Sandy, my other daughter, was in the room. I smiled triumphantly.

Sandy started laughing hysterically. "What is it?" I asked.

Sandy said, "Christine told me she had forgotten the three words!"

Ha! Once again the old bag wins the day.

I've decided I am going to make an effort to listen carefully when people are talking to me. Especially Christine.

25 comments:

TARYTERRE said...

That was very funny, indeed. I wonder what your daughter would have said to me if she knew I left my keys in a parked car with the engine running and went shopping for an hour. LOL Glad you remembered. take care.

Tempo said...

Look out or she'll have you booked in to an old folks farm... It's funny that she forgot when you remembered...

Claudia Moser said...

Hilarious :)

Shelly said...

Revenge can be sweet! That is too good. You should tell her you are going to come up with a memory test for her...

Shelly said...

Revenge can be sweet! That is too good. You should tell her you are going to come up with a memory test for her...

Betty Wiens said...

hahaha, priceless! I would have loved to rub it in.
You guys sound so funny, I love how your girls are concerned about you.

YeamieWaffles said...

That's such a funny story Belle, it's great that you still have the upper hand over your daughters, I don't think they need to have any serious worries about your mind for a very, very long time now.

Odie Langley said...

At this age we will take our successes any way we can get them. I can certainly identify with slow memory. Someone can ask me something and I know it but it will not come out until about 10 or 15 minutes later and it suddenly pops into my mind but then it's usually too late. Getting older sucks sometimes. Have a wonderful Thursday my sweet friend.
Hugs,
Odie

Copyboy said...

Wait. Huh? Oh what was this post about again and what time is it? Hey I get the STML too. :) I think it's because we rely too much on google and that aliens have something to do with it. Can't prove the latter.

Pearl said...

:-) Nice.

You know, I find that I tend to pay attention only when I'm not doing something else. This is hard for me, because I'm ALWAYS doing something else.

:-)

Pearl

Jeanie said...

It is good that she is concerned and even better that you and your memory won the day. Dog, car, man....I'll have to remember that in case someone asks.

Southwest Arkie said...

That's too funny! I worry about losing my memory- but then I forget what I am worrying about and everything is ok.

Shady Del Knight said...

This happens constantly in my "conversations" with Mrs. Shady. We share very few common interests. When I want to tell her about my stuff her eyes glaze over her and her thoughts drift a million miles away. When I'm done sharing I usually get no reply. I am just as guilty because I'm busy playing music in my brain and thinking about the blog while she's speaking to me. The most meaningful form of communication is nonverbal (body language) and just showing up to grind out another day of marriage speaks volumes about the players involved.

Belle said...

Tary- Ha! She would probably commit you.

Tempo- I'm keeping my eyes open.

Claudia- My girls are so funny.

Shelly- I was going to tease her about her memory, but I decided to give her a break.

Betty- It is nice they care. I actually wouldn't mind an old folk's home because they do all the cooking.

Matthew- No, I don't think they need to worry!

Odie- Getting old does suck! You have a great day too.

Copyboy- Aliens are a very good excuse. Even if you can't prove it.

Pearl- That's it, isn't it? I'm always thinking hard about something.

Jeanie- That's right, Jeanie. Be ready in case they want to ship you off to the old folk's home.

Arkie- See? Sometimes it is good to forget.

Tom- That's true Tom. When my hubby starts talking about how he will spend the millions he wins on the Lotto I find it hard to listen or comment beyond, "Dan, we are never going to win." When I talk about a book I'm reading the poor guy tries, but it ain't easy for him! Showing up is the most important thing.

Michael Offutt, Tebow Cult Initiate said...

I hope that I never lose my mind. I think that is what terrifies me the most about growing older. My mind is all I have.

ReformingGeek said...

Haha! Good for you.

I think I'll find a good memory game today.

Thank goodness for pen, paper, or any place to write things down. :)

Now what was it I said I was going to do today?

Carrie said...

That is hysterical! I have a problem with asking my husband a question and then being distracted and not listening for the answer. I need to work on that because that is pretty rude on my part...I have a horrible memory but it isn't nearly as bad as my family thinks it is. If they forget something they just assume that I am the one that somehow forgot and try to turn it around on me. They need to work on that because it is pretty rude. At least the rudeness evens out at my house. :)

Belle said...

Michael- I know what you mean. I hope my mind has it all together when I am really old. But I have read that only 10% of the elderly wind up in nursing homes. Most people die at home or maybe in a hospital.

Geek- They say memory games do help your brain - it's a good idea to do them. I work on crosswords every day but only because I love doing them.

Carrie- Hey, at least the rudeness evens out! I think my hubby and I are equally rude to each other also.

M Pax said...

lol It's sort of like how I thought St. Pats was a few weeks ago.

Chatty Crone said...

You have a GREAT family. sandie

Bouncin Barb said...

Belle...this was a riot! I love it. They think they're so smart don't they? haha. Love your sense of humor! Hugs.

Ruth said...

It sounds like she's the one that needs to write things down. Ha!

orchid said...

Oh, Dearest Belle!!!
Yey!!! Happy for the winner,
You gave me a big smile reading this post; but at the same time, I thought my husband and I have to do the same test, p;)
We both constantly losing short term memories lately, whew...
Love you always, xoxo Miyako*

Belle said...

M Pax- That is funny. Sometimes I have to think hard about what month it is.

Sandie- I do have a great family!

Barb- Christine is a lot like me - distracted and forgetful. Sandy isn't like that. She is more orderly and knows what she is doing. They do make me laugh.

Ruth- That's right!

Orchid- I think it is normal to be more forgetful as you age, but it isn't all that bad. Blessings to you.

Roan said...

Good for you! My kids are always quizzing me about things, like I'm over the hill or something. I'm not that old, yet! Okay, maybe I am in years, but not in mind.