Now that I am retired, I imagined that I did not need my memory anymore. What do retired people need to remember anyway! That big meeting at the office? What office, what meeting?
I’m going fishing. So where is my fishing pole? Where is my favorite fishing spot? Where are the keys for the car? Where are the keys for the boat?
I thought some nice empty space would help in retirement and so I gave up my memory. Not really on purpose: It just looks better if I come up with an excuse.
Now what? I have to make notes for everything. Then I can’t find the notes. Much later (maybe years), I find them and I do not understand them. “Meet Harry at 11:30 on Wednesday.” Who is Harry? Why would I meet a person I do not even know?
There are other problems once you give away your memory:
Officer: “What’s you name, sir?”
Me: “Give me a moment here, officer, it will come to me. … I think I have a note in my pocket that will tell us both that very thing.”
Aside, to myself: “I have too many pockets.”
I never did find the note because I forgot to write a note to put it in my right hand pocket. My wife has no sympathy at all. “How can you forget your name and address and phone number?” “Write it on your arm!” I would sure like to write something on her arm too!
Now, if your story is somewhat like mine, you drop me a line. We can feel sorry for each other and that may help both of us. What you say? My address. I got it right here in one of these pockets. …
George H Haver, Lima
