There Ya Go
It’s time for me to put out an allpoints bulletin — not on a person, thank God, but a piece of electronics. Some weeks ago, not sure when exactly, I lost my recorder. This is a big deal for me. Other than my camera, there’s no other tool of the trade I have on my person more often.
It’s not the first time I’ve misplaced it, either, but after missing something for so long, eventually you have to put the item in the “lost” category. This is lost.
So, if you spot a small, black Samsung recording device, it’s mine. Reward offered — even for information leading to the discovery of it. I’m close to putting the damn thing on the side of a milk carton.
But that’s not my only problem. Another APB — if you see a pill bottle filled with levothyroxine pills … 1) don’t take them, and 2) please bring them to me at my office. It’s not life or death, but since I was told years ago that I have to take one of these little beauties every day for the rest of my life, I’m thinking I would really like to have them.
But that’s not my only problem (Part II). Last week, I had a small sheet of notebook paper sitting right in front of me, just above my keyboard in my office. This had a list of names of people in a photo I took at the recent Lake Benton Community Foundation Gala Tara and I were invited to and attended. It sat there from Saturday until Tuesday. I know it did. Come Wednesday — deadline day (the day that I needed it … gone).
Luckily, thanks to my investigative powers, I was able to get the names from someone I knew would know them and all was right with the world.
I’m thinking my recorder, pills and that sheet of paper are sitting in a pile somewhere next to about 13 pairs of cheap sunglasses and a couple snow caps.
I don’t know everything — still trying to figure out if “y” is a vowel or not — but I do know that I have a proclivity for losing things. And it makes me think, is this an age thing? If you’re reading this and you’re of a certain age, it’s likely you can sympathize. And it’s pretty frustrating, isn’t it? Raise your hand if you’ve lost something in the past week. The past day. Since you started reading this.
I remember having conversations with people after my father died. He had a rough last few years, relegated to his scooter, unable to walk at all because he just wore his knees out. “At least he had his mind” was a common theme back then, and it’s one we hear often when talking about someone we’ve lost. And it’s a good point. Getting old sucks.
I had another “senior moment” on Easter — you’ll love this one. So, I made my traditional deviled eggs — beloved among my family members (and expected for holiday gatherings — like, don’t-bother-showing-up-without-them beloved). I made too many to fit in one Tupperware egg holder, so I put four in a second one.
I took them out of my fridge before my daughter and her boyfriend headed to my niece’s in Slayton. The meal went well, and we all departed for home. Later that night, it was time for supper, and I had a craving. Oh yes, I planned on finishing off those four leftover eggs.
Much to my surprise/chagrin the Tupperware I grabbed had — you guessed it — 20 eggs in it!
No one at our party said a word, nothing about how crazy Per was to bring just four eggs for a dozen people. No sympathy for this poor man who is losing his mind. I felt bad — and very stupid that night.
What would you rather lose in your late years — your body, or your mind? That’s a tough one. I know people who have older parents with issues like dementia or Alzheimer’s, and I can’t image living my life not knowing to whom I’m talking, especially if it’s a family member or a close friend, maybe one I’ve known for years.
Then again, I also can’t image living the last few years of my life not being able to take a step, or straighten out my legs.
So, which is worse? That’s a question I hope neither you nor me have to answer.
I do think this blast of forgetfulness has something to do with my age. I believe we all eventually reach a point where we outright lose things and don’t know why. Does that mean we’re losing our minds as well? God, I hope not. I can’t lose that.
Good thing my head is screwed on tight.
