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| image credit: http://usualerror.com/e-book/memory |
Long ago, I had a conversation with one of the other IT Guys and he talked about not having too many children. I asked him why. He said:
The average guy can only faithfully remember between 7 and 10 things *.
1. Anniversary
2. Wife's Birthday
3. Son's Birthday
4. Daughter's Birthday
5. Password to the system
6. Admin Password
7. Own birthday
8. Dang it, what were the other ones?
Anyway, he got to talking about how if you have too many kids,we start losing some of the other ones. He estimated that over half of the divorces happen because the man forgets one of the top two. (frighteningly, I remember the conversation)
Clearly, there are layers of bad memory... my boss's memory is worse than mine. Equally frightening, he may have been the coworker with whom the above conversation happened.
My wife has an excellent memory, or so she would have me believe. My kids have realized that I don't always have a stellar memory. I have conversations where I don't remember the conversation and I'm told I said things that don't even sound like something I would say... am I being used?
So, here are just a few of the twisted things I have traded my childrens' birth dates for...
- Almost every line from Princess Bride, I know... Inconceivable! I'm stupid like a land war in Asia.
- A conversation with a person I had just met and only seen twice since, about of all things...gum and bad breath.
- The lyrics of Ice, Ice, Baby...to the extreme I rock the lyrics to a bad song, light up a cake and celebrate the wrong day.
- I met this girl once and got her number and it just stuck in my head, it's 867-5309. Her name was Jenny, but not the one from Forrest Gump.
- I remember that my sister likes German Chocolate Cake and my wife likes Red Velvet cake, but without the icing.
- I remember that my mom collects crystal perfume bottles.
- I remember that my dad will always opt for Vanilla, where as mom opts for Chocolate.
- I still remember the combination to the lock I used in gym class in 1983. I don't actually still have the lock.
I feel like I can forget my birthday, because optimally, I have one wife and three kids who will remember it for me. Notice I don't have my parents birthdays listed on my list so clearly this is a bad plan.
What's one weird thing you remember?
What's something you've forgotten? (Yeah, it's a trick question)
* I don't remember the exact statistic, of course.
I'm a directions freak. I can generally get where I'm going if I'm pointed in the right direction (N, S, E, W) and once I go somewhere once (in the dark, rain, anything) I can get back there no problem. It drives my husband absolutely nuts because he can have gone 50 times, have a map and a GPS handy and still not get there.
ReplyDeleteI also have this annoying tendency (annoying to me anyhow) to remember stupid arguments I had in grade school with people I couldn't stand. I don't know why I remember them - I certainly don't care anymore.
The thing I never remember is charging my cell phone. I am the queen of dead cell phone battery.
I remember the combination for a lock I may or may not still have from middle school or high school as well. Mine is only from the 90's though. I forget experiences like what I did on trips, which is actually pretty sad.
ReplyDeleteBecky, my wife is the same way with directions, but she can't read a map to save her life.
I can remember all my phone numbers since I was a kid, along with my grandparents, who passed away 10 years ago and my aunts, whom I haven't called in years.
ReplyDeleteI also remember Jenny's number, to song of course!
Maybe that is the trick, put the informaiton you want to remember to lyrics.
I can remember all my phone numbers since I was a kid, along with my grandparents, who passed away 10 years ago and my aunts, whom I haven't called in years.
ReplyDeleteI also remember Jenny's number, to song of course!
Maybe that is the trick, put the informaiton you want to remember to lyrics.
Today I talked to my dad three times on the phone before remembering, at noon, that it was his birthday ;-)
ReplyDeleteI remember my dad and brother leaving me behind and heading off to Disney World when I was three years old - but I guess that would leave an impact on any kid! Hmmm...
I am a trivia king, can remember obscure things like customer numbers in our operating system (and their contract pricing) but I somehow never notice my girlfriend's change in hairstyle or when I promised to take her shopping...
ReplyDeleteOh, the curse of being a guy....
I remembered how to survive the fire swamp, so I'm onto a winner.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I've forgotten is my shoe size. Every time I have had to check, yet it hasn't changed in more than a decade.
I don't remember much, but I do remember a lot of things from the far past. Like stories, and songs, etc... The only thing is that it takes a trigger. God, I love smartphones and Facebook. They make it so I don't have to remember.
ReplyDeleteNice post, if I remember correctly, some of the things you remember instead of, um, what was it you forgot? Oh well, what I was saying is some of the things you remember are good thing and can score some serious brownie points (i.e. the cake).
ReplyDeleteOne thing I always remember is the weird ass dream I had, it's the only dream I remember but I was being chased by aliens at the Scout camp I worked at.
One thing I have forgotten is my locker combination for everything, that is why I use keyed locks.
Oh man... Alisha and I go 'round and 'round on this topic. Though recently I started using a CPAP (Continuous positive airway pressure) machine, or as the kids call it, my Darth Vader mask, and my memory has improved drastically (along with my blood pressure, sex drive, energy levels, weight loss).
ReplyDeleteMaybe you just need a CPAP WilyGuy. :-)
Enjoyed the read!
Michael A. Walker
Defying Procrastination
"Obviously, this list would be longer, but remembering what I remembered
ReplyDeletein place of the things that I've forgotten that I forgot to remember is
just too much for my brain to process." <--That is a mind blowing statement right there!I had to read it 3 times to get your point and I still don't get it! lol
You know what I hate? When my wife tells me to remind her to do something! Now who is going to remind me to remind her that she has to do something? If it ain't none of my business, do you really think I will remember? Gees!
Hubby rarely remembers anything has he grog brain........lol My dad forgets things but he is pushing 70...........lol My mum forgets nothing and she is 72............lol So what do I forget well I have forgotten where this comment was going............lol
ReplyDeletehttp://jo-annemotherandnanna.blogspot.com.au/
I remember every argument I have had while I am in a relationship with the person I argue with, but as soon as the relationship ends, the tape is erased. Other than that, sometimes I remember to feed my dog.
ReplyDeleteI don't usually think of direction as memory, but as I will often drive to (or towards) work when I am going elsewhere, I suppose it is a memory. I too remember arguments that I've had where I've said things I wasn't proud of.
ReplyDeleteIt's almost as if you and my other commenter know each other... Forgetting trips is sad. I collect patches from places I visit. I have them stitched on a blanket, so I remember in that way.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Jules! I will sing all the things I want to remember. Dang it, I can't sing.
ReplyDeleteI remember some odd phone numbers as well. I remember my high school best friend's number t his parents house.
Hmmm, two of the same reply...
ReplyDeleteServes him right having to wait half the day for a Birthday well wish, he left you home and went to Disney! And took your (obviously) evil brother (this would work really well if it was a step-brother)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment!
Ugh, new makeup, haircut, new clothes, new shoes...I don't see any of that either. It's really hard to use the excuse that you "see past all that to the inner" her when I certainly notice new undergarments, if ya know what I mean.
ReplyDeleteONYA! I'm so glad to have another Princess Bride freak. Ya know, PB is my favorite movie! You know what else starts with PB?
ReplyDeleteYou forget your shoe size? It's on the shoes you are wearing isn't it? That qualifies as something you don't have to remember. I forget my Left from my Right....
The glories of getting old. Do your stories all start with "when I was a lad?" I, too, am blessed with memories of days gone by. I find that my childhood is far more glorious than my adulthood.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if there is a right brain / left brain thing for memories. I'm more like Rainman in that I remember many more numerical things. Aliens in Scout camp...sounds like a campfire story got to you. (or perhaps it was the probes)
ReplyDeleteI think I'm in trouble! My wife is the bad sleeper and if she goes over to the dark side, she'll remember even more than I do now.
ReplyDeleteExactly (which answers both of your points) ha!
ReplyDeleteI love your comments Jo-Anne. My brain tracks them perfectly.
ReplyDeleteThankfully, I'm 19 years into what will be the last relationship of its kind for me and I don't remember enough about the others.
ReplyDeleteI have to admit that I've gained much more by being left behind than I would have if he had taken me.... talk about leverage! ;-)
ReplyDeleteI remember a lot of things. Unfortunately, they aren't always important. I also think I remember the important things, for the most part. Thank goodness for things like Google Calendar and Facebook for birthdays and such!
ReplyDeletewww.hoohaablog.com
Yeah, I remember Jenny and her number. Damn slut gave it out to everyone. I can tell you that I saw Jessie's girl and I don't want her.
ReplyDeleteI can also say that I remember my high school girlfriend's telephone number. Haven't used it in 25 years, but for some reason it stuck with me.
I love this post, because I was just thinking about all of the weird things I remember and all of the things I forget... or at least I think I was...
ReplyDeleteObligatory joke behind us, I have to admit that I sometimes forget how old I am. It sounds weird, because I am only 26... but I honestly sometimes have to take a second or two to sit and ponder how old I am... sometimes I even need to do the math. I guess it just shows that I don't care too much about age.
My birthday is coming up in less than two weeks, so I guess things will be getting even more confusing in a few days.
If we remember to check Facebook...
ReplyDeleteHow could I forget Jessie's Girl? And of course we're talking about Lori Loughlin from Full House, right?
ReplyDeleteNo, Princess Bride comment? You are soulless... Lol.
I thought about doing a post on age. I don't much care about mine, but I've always remembered mine, like accurately. I just celebrated my half birthday on Friday. I guess having a winter birthday, I never got to have a pool party or get a surfboard...
ReplyDeleteSo, you got big plans for your birthday? Do we need to convene an editorial meeting? We haven't hit the DC Hard Rock yet, lol!
I'm convinced the reason that I can't remember what I went into the other room for is because I've filled all my available memory space with 80's sitcom theme songs. Why do I know all the words to Different Strokes and The Fact's of Life?
ReplyDeleteNow listen to the hook while my DJ revolves it!
ice ice baby
Hell, I forget how old I am sometimes. I also forget that my dog needs to eat and the sun radiates harmful rays that turn me into a tomato.
ReplyDeleteI was going to start with, "I don't know why I remember this, but...." and give you a few different random facts. But I can't remember ANYTHING right now (the Lyme Disease is neurological in my case), and pretty soon, I will forget I used to have my shit together. As least, I THINK I used to have my shit together....see? It's working already....
ReplyDeleteThanks Ken, now I'll have Blair and the Girls rolling around in my head tonight, likely killing any useful processes I might have had going!
ReplyDeleteBetter the dogs than forgetting the kids need to eat...
ReplyDeleteYou almost had me...what were we talking about again?
ReplyDeleteI am working on my birthday :(
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I can so relate. My wife can remember every phone number we've had for the last forty years. We just moved from a house we lived in for ten years and the minute we drove away I forgot the phone number.
ReplyDeleteWhat was this post about? The only thing I can remember at the moment is every word to "Horton Hears A Who."
ReplyDeleteThanks Chubby. I moved to a google voice number so I wouldn't have to change it ever. I can remember that one. My wife on the other hand wants to remember the old one instead.
ReplyDeleteExactly...
ReplyDeleteNow nobody is going to remember to vote for me, poor planning!
ReplyDeleteOn Rusty's and my podcast, I mentioned that Jax was from New York. He asked me how I knew that and I said '..........That's a good question.'
ReplyDeleteHaha, yeah the stuff you THINK you remember correctly is often the worst.
ReplyDelete