Community Chat

[Annabellethecat66]

I hope everyone (especially those who hesitate to post!

I just heard Jane Brown say her memory isn't so great these days.  She said "I can remember vividly things that happened years ago but don't ask me what happened yesterday.

My ears perked up!  Bill the cat, my trusty sidekick was snoozing next to me.  I grabbed my iPad and here I am.

Ladies, I've had a theory on why that is for many of us.  I'm taking the time to post my theory (spreading the word) so no one else will worry about this.

When we were young our lives were very busy living life.  Some of us had careers and families, etc.  some of us had careers and our lives moved in various other directions.

My point is, we were busy in our lives.  We were making memories.  Some were good, some were not, but they were memories that affected our lives. 

In other words, they stuck in our brain.

Move forward to 'later in life'.  Some of us are widows, some has sadly lost children.  Along the way some have gotten a divorce, and some lucky ones have had nothing happen that one can can call 'life changing'.

Everything back then made an imprint on our brain.

But now we don't move fast like we used to.  There aren't many 'fires' we have to put out in the family.  (In my family we always say the trouble makers that we loved have passed away).

Here's my theory.  OK  don't get your panties twisted...I'm getting there.

I think that we aren't making many memories in this part of our lives.  I think humans are designed by God to have memories.  Think about it, how many times have your memories brought you right back to the time and place on your mind?

For most of us the good time memories slowly come to the forefront, as the bad and sad ones take a back seat.

This is slightly off subject.  Those of you who are bored about my long soliloquies can move on.  It's OK, sometimes I bore myself.  I always bore Bill the cat, but hey he's a cheap companion.  Just give him some Sheba and a treat and he's good,

Isn't it interesting how certain smells can trigger a memory too?

Here's a thought that my friend and I ponder.  We both watch so much 'stuff' on TV we've often laughed that we can't remember if it was true or a TV show we saw.

Here, this will make my gobbly ****** clearer...I hope.

We both watch a whole lot (I mean too much) of true crime shows.

But when we talk about them we're like, "I'm confused.  Was that a regular fake TV show or...wait for it...something that really happened in one of our real life mysteries.

My sweet daughter is always analyzing me (her mom) and her analysis says two things.

The first is we watch too many shows about death and destruction and the second is we watch too many shows about death and destruction.

She's coming here for a few months with her fur baby (LunaLee).  Bill the cat has threatened to move out and live with my friend, the Vet's nurse.

My pointer finger is about to fall off.  I should delete this but my finger hurts.

I warned you way up...not my fault if you're bored.......

[rms1954]

WOW.  That's some theory.  I kind of lost you along the way.  

[ECBG]

@Annabellethecat66 

Very, very interesting.  Annabelle.

As you know, I have had a lot of detail in what I have always done, from teaching to now.  I guess maybe that has caused my extreme recall.

I think DH just doesn't pay attention, but he doesn't want me to ask him repeatedly to do something. 

Funny, just ask about a math or physics theory!  He's on it!

[PA Mom-mom]

@Annabellethecat66  I see what you are getting at, but I disagree with you about the "fires" we are putting out. For me, they have increased exponentially. I have three grown children, so that means 3 sets of families with their goings-on, questions, problems to pray about, exciting achievements, birthdays, and you name it. I get texts and calls requesting advice about worries, health issues, cooking, gardening... etc, etc. I have a great memory about earlier years, but the past few years are a blur. Last week I bought a 2 quart crock pot to keep gravy warm at the Easter table. Today I was pulling out my 5 qt. slow cooker and found the same 2 quart crock pot I had bought last year or the year before. I don't remember when I bought it!!! smileyloll:

[deepwaterdotter]

That's why I have a notebook of messages with everything I need to remember dated and written down.  If I lose that notebook, I'm in trouble.

[SilleeMee]

I don't worry about it but rather have become more aware of my memory becoming less efficient than it use to be. I'm okay with it. No worries.

[ninjawife]

I have a terrible long term memory.  Unlike Jane I do not remember things that happened in the past vividly.  I tend to live in the moment and when the moment passes so does my memory of it.  

[hckynutjohn]

(thread title)

@Annabellethecat66 

Long term memory? Not at all. Short term memory? Mine hasn't been good as far back as I can remember. Started writing notes and lists, even packing my hockey gear bag, before heading to the rink, decades ago. I can remember players forgetting even their skates, and they were much younger than me.

I had a cognition test a few years ago and it didn't show any cause for concern. I will say there are times it takes longer to remember things I know are still in my brain, but at this point, I don't see it as a cause for me to be concerned.

hckynut  🇺🇸

[Krimpette]

I have a dear friend who is a year+ younger than I am.  We do a "good morning" type of text every morning.  On Sunday morning, she texted me that she was getting ready to leave for her dermotology appointment! I quickly called her and asked,..."does your derm doctor work on Sundays???"  She was astounded!  She had no idea it wasn't Monday, when she thought her appointment was.  (Later found out that the appointment isn't even until Tuesday!).  Memory lapses scare me, almost more than anything.

[BlueFinch]

@Annabellethecat66 Interesting theory. I love to read your revelations about -- just about anything. You always make me grin. 

In aging, remote memory remains more intact, than recent memory. It's why we start hearing aging friends and family sharing the same stories over and over again. Eye's often roll, having to hear them again. It's not that they haven't had newer experiences they could share, they just remember the old better, sometimes in minute detail, while sometimes unable to remember what they ate for lunch. 

Recent memory is challenged by physical structure changes in the brain itself. The part of the brain inputting new information. Learning new info, and retaining it, becomes more challenging. It's less stressful to dwell in past memories, than appear confused about current ones.

When younger, we mentally multitask, having to count on past experiences with many new ones. We can balance ten plates at a time. When we start being unable to do this, it's upsetting for many who previously rarely forgot anything. Past, or present. I'm one of those.

I can remember how I knew the history of every patient on my unit and after reviewing labs, I didn't even have to write them down after reading them once. I could quote them for the rest of my shift. For days, if I was concerned about them. 

By the time I retired, I had to make lengthy notes. I could no longer retain everything in the chaotic environment I worked in. While I still performed my job well, I missed being so sharp and on top of everything happening. It was time to pass the torch.

So, I've not really worried about it as much as realizing I'm in the process of changing. I just try to do all I can to avoid going too far to the other side. I do know that new experiences for me, can never replace the remarkable old ones of my younger years. I'm trying to create new ones, with realistic expectations, though.