I took Heidi for a walk two nights ago and it was beautiful. I love this time of year.
I worry about my memory a lot lately. I know it's normal to worry about memory as we age but at what point does it slip over into legitimate concern? When I took Jack to the skateboard park on Monday, I didn't event think about his skateboard, he remembered. We turned around and got the skateboard and I carried on. It was only when my husband stopped by after work and he asked why didn't Jack have his helmet and pads on that I realized I had forgotten them. This is just one example but they're starting to add up.
I forget to feed the animals. I tried to put the chicken in the cupboard. It's getting harder to plan and carry out complex activities like cooking.
I'm hoping it's just stress and normal aging. I've never been this old before so I don't know what's normal:)
I went to pottery yesterday morning and felt shaky and lightheaded when I got there. It settled down and the ladies there were all so lovely, and funny. It was glazing day Ms. Moon. I'm feeling slightly more confident in my glazing abilities and I even blew bubbles all over one large bowl. Hopefully it turns out well. I grabbed this image from the internet to give you an idea of how it turns out. I'll take photos after my bowl is fired.
Last night one of the ladies from pottery had an extra free ticket to a comedy show and invited me to come along with her friend who was visiting from Regina. The show was amazing and I laughed my ass off. Just what the doctor ordered:)
The headliner was Mike Delamont and here's a link to see his comedy. Comedy is a gift I think and I am thankful for the comedians in the world.
I just heard/read an article that stated that if you worry about your memory, you're probably OK.
ReplyDeleteIf you DON'T realize something is going on with your memory ... you need to see your doctor! Dementia and Alzheimer's sneaks up on you!
Thanks for the info. It does help:)
DeleteI think it's not a problem as long as you're clear on the functions of objects, what they're for, rather than did you bring them.
ReplyDeleteThat's helpful info too. Thank you:)
DeleteIt sounds to me like you are doing the exact same things I am when it comes to memory. Glen is the same too. When one of us leaves the house, the chances of us not having to come back in to get something we forgot is ZERO. He'll tell me to remind him of something and I'll say, "Really? No way that's going to happen." THIS IS WHY WE HAVE SMART PHONES! You can tell Siri to remind you of...whatever...at some point in time. Also, I use the timer a lot for baking and cooking. Recipes? I have to go back and check them for every step. Not kidding. What did we watch on TV last night? Mostly I have no idea. If I get home with my credit card and Costco card in their assigned places I feel as if I've succeeded. Oh- here's another. I can't find anything in the refrigerator even if I'm looking right at it. Like a man! I'm losing words at an alarming rate. When I get to pottery I often feel as if I've forgotten everything I have learned and need to relearn it all. The list is endless.
ReplyDeleteSigh.
And I've had those lightheaded, shaky moments too. Stress and anxiety. You may not think you're anxious but chances are real good you are and the things that make you anxious may not be anything that made you anxious before.
These are my experiences, anyway. And is this normal? Hell if I know. I just keep making lists and using google a lot.
I've never seen that bubble technique! I want to try it! Thank you!
And now I'm having a lightheaded moment. Great! The power of suggestion! Am I really anxious about driving up to Georgia? Hell, it's only an hour away. I have GPS! But what if I have a panic attack while I'm on the interstate?
See, you're not doing nearly as bad as I am.
But I wonder what the point of going to see a doctor is. They really cannot do a damn thing. In the meantime, we should probably be making plans that any older person would make about future needs and care.
I use lists too, don't have a Siri, use timers too. I have other tricks too. I leave the light on in the laundry room to remind me to go back there. Leave things out to remind me of what to do, or place them in or near my purse. It's frustrating. Losing words too. AAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
DeleteMaybe I am anxious. Last time I was anxious was my kids were little and I didn't realize it was anxiety, it's only looking back that I realize that it was anxiety.
We will have to make some plans with regards to us, Katie and Jack. Should be fun.
One of my daughters (her name rhymes with Messie) keeps lovingly encouraging me and her father to make some damn plans already! She's always been the boss of us and she is absolutely correct in that we need to do this before we can't.
DeleteMy mind is often elsewhere which means I forget things; it's a symptom of overload in my opinion. If you're worried though, I would have it checked out, just to reassure you. Love the pottery! I enjoy comedy but sometimes not comedy shows. They try too hard to make me laugh and I resist. LOL
ReplyDeleteI think it could easily be a symptom of overload. I figure because I could do it when I was young, I should be able to do it now, but that's not the case. It's much worse when I'm interrupted, takes me much long to get back on task and I have told Jack that when he keeps interrupting me.
DeleteAll three comedians were very good and my face hurt from laughing. A good sign:)
That looks like a lovely place to walk. I'll be out in the open and in the wind when I get onto the road today. Hood up! Scarf on!
ReplyDeleteLike Ms Moon, I too look at recipes each step of the way instead of assuming I'll remember. I take a list to the grocery store even if I only need a few things and often forget to look at the list. And if there's much of anything going on around me in the kitchen, I've been known to put milk in the cupboard instead of the fridge. It is just a matter of thinking about things other than what I'm doing. Seems very common. But still makes me wonder, just as you do.
It's deceiving, that pathway through the woods is probably only about 200 metres but it does the trick for me, gives me my tree fix:)
DeleteI'm much more easily overwhelmed and distracted I find when trying to focus on cooking supper. I'm normally easily distracted anyway.
That sounds like a sorely needed walk! "I am thankful for the comedians in the world." So am I! Please take care.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good walk and Heidi enjoyed it a lot. And laughter and comedy make everything more bearable:)
DeleteThat bubble effect in the glaze is AMAZING! I worry about aging and memory too. I can no longer think about more than one thing at a time. I must deliberately focus only on what I'm thinking about or it disappears from my head.
ReplyDeleteYep, only one thing at a time, otherwise it disappears. So frustrating!
DeleteI am not a doctor (and you probably should talk to your doctor) but it sounds like my life right now at 69. I have figured out the calendar on my phone and have reminders all day long. I can't remember what night my tv show is on - my phone tells me 5 minutes before along with the channel. Every move I make, I mark it on the calendar. No more notes by the door, my phone tells me "don't forget to bring a ream of paper to the church office". I get my steps in by walking into rooms, forgetting why I am there, walking out of rooms, walking back into rooms when I remember. I am blaming stress for my bad sleep habits (it's really just bad sleep habits) but we almost miss the school bus as I try to make breakfast. I am usually running late for where ever I go because I forget what I have been planning to do. I get the dizzy and lightheadedness when I forget to eat breakfast and I drank four cups of coffee. I have endless lists if I could only remember where I put them.
ReplyDeleteI have some vertigo and some neuropathy in my leg. My last PT person told me the reason I fall is because I need to be more "mindful" of lifting my leg. One more thing in my cluttered brain.
I severely broke my arm in 2020 and have some loss of range of motion. I worked hard to learn to dress myself and the key is to put tops on the left arm, then the right. Yesterday, 5 years and 7 months later, I put my arm in the right sleeve of my coat first and the left arm couldn't make it to it's sleeve. In front of people. They say a dog can learn a new trick in 28 days. I am sadly lacking.
I could make more reminders in my phone, that's a good idea. I'm pretty good at backing things up so that I'm on time. If I have an appointment at 10:00 am and it's a half hour drive, I make sure I have my shower by 09:00am. I think part of the problem with supper is that I'm making two meals, one for me and hubby and one that Jack will eat.
ReplyDeleteThat's so frustrating about your arm. I don't know if I could even get dressed putting my left arm in first, although I guess you learn with time. And then forget with time:)
I worry about my memory too. I guess it is a normal thing to worry as we age as we see people with Alzheimer's and dementia that are similar ages as us. When I was younger, I don't even remember anyone with these diseases. Your forgetfulness that you described is exactly like mine. I think Boud's comment was something to think about. When I am out walking the dogs, I invariably forget something, like extra poop bags, etc.
ReplyDeleteI keep my poop bags right by the leashes and I always take extra because just when you think they'll only poop twice, they made it a three poop day.
DeleteIf my memory is failing, there's nothing I can do about it, and if it's just normal aging, I just need to adjust.
I try not to worry about my memory or anything else, because sometimes worry can make things worse. I have worried about things in my younger days, and many of the things I worried about never came to fruition. So I worried for nothing and missed out on enjoying life, sadly.
ReplyDeleteYour photo is absolutely gorgeous and the pottery is beautiful!
Easy to say and so hard to do, but I do try, every day to stop worrying, with mixed results.
DeleteSadly, that pottery is not mine but just a photo to show what bubbles and glaze can do together.
My memory of people's names has gone all over the place in recent years. But I have met people with really serious memory issues and that's a completely different story.
ReplyDeleteYou have a lot on your plate, remember.
Speaking of plates, your bowls are gorgeous.
Sadly, not my bowls but I will post my bowl when it comes out of the kiln. I hope it's as pretty.
DeleteSometimes I can remember names and sometimes not, but I have had many patients with dementia. It's a horrible disease.
Stress alone can cause memory issues. A thyroid which isn't working as it should can cause both mental fog and memory issues (along with other annoying issues). Get yours checked.
ReplyDeleteMy thyroid is good. I get it checked regularly as I'm on Synthroid, but thank you. Maybe its from the Menopause. I'll blame that:)
DeleteThe pattern on the bowls is very unusual, and nice. I've learnt that stress and worry can do terrible things to my memory, and ironically that is often when you need your memory at its best.
ReplyDeleteYeah, stress is hard on the old brain, even the young brain. I like the look of the bubbles on the pottery, and it's easy to do.
DeleteI've started to think about my memory a bit too. I know I had my earbuds yesterday as I use them while I'm working but I'll be damned if I can find them today. I even looked in the fridge (seriously) just in case. Still haven't found the but I sympathise with you!
ReplyDeleteI get so frustrated when I lose things too. The other night it was duct tape, couldn't find it anywhere. Turns out it had rolled off the counter and was hiding under the counter:)
DeleteSorry to hear about your memory issues but I hope that you are just getting your knickers in a twist about the matter. Perhaps consultation with an expert would help. Maybe there are pills you could take as it might be related to blood and oxygen etc.. Perhaps it is really nothing to worry about. I am pleased you had good laughs at the comedy show. Maybe you and Mr Big could book tickets for another comedy gig.
ReplyDeleteI'm probably just getting my knickers in a twist. My hemoglobin is fine.
DeleteSadly Mr. Big doesn't fit well into the seats at most venues. The last time we went, we saw Jeff Dunham which was so funny, but Mr. Big had his knees under his chin the whole time.
So grateful for comedians too; they spotlight the truth and the keep us from going insane.
ReplyDeleteLaughter makes the world so much better.
DeleteAt 74, I have similar issues. I worry late at night, but I've always been so anxious that I'm not sure I ever really relax. I take that into account - stress, worry. And I do crossword puzzles and write a blog, ha. Post a note on the door frame saying "Do you have everything you need?"
ReplyDeleteProof, I am actually 73. Will be 74 soon. I forgot.
DeleteToo funny:)
Delete