One of the more disconcerting aspects of being an aging Boomer is how the RAM portion of the brain's memory can crash so quickly.
Case in point. Have you ever been in social situations where you meet someone, hear their name, and instantly forget it? Now, if it is a guy, there is an easy solution...you call them "Buddy".
NOTE: My much, much younger counterparts can insert "Dude"...but then, they don't have memory issues do they?
Anyway, Buddy will always work and no one is the wiser, especially upon leaving, when the dismissive departing wave is accompanied with, "Hey, take care buddy!".
Buddy. It is the pre-Alzheimer guy's life preserver.
Last Saturday night I went with Margo to her school fundraiser dinner/dance. There were lots of recognizable faces, however, I was absolutely unable and clueless on recalling any names. Contrast my dilemma with the fact that my wife can remember everyone's name, including the 830 students and 85 staff members at her school only serves to exacerbate my anxiety.
Our table has ten people, one couple I have known for nearly 20 years so I am good to go there, but another couple I meet for the first time along with yet another couple, they all introduce themselves and as much as I am trying to remember them, I have forgotten their names before they have even finished the last syllable.
The remaining couple sitting to our right I have met at least 3 other times (they have even been to our house!) and I am drawing a complete goose egg on the guy's name. I spent a good 15 minutes mentally going though the alphabet trying to recall his first name to no avail, so I gave up and defaulted into my "buddy system" for the remainder of the evening.
I hope it is not hereditary. Although, the other night I was talking to my son on the phone and just as he hung up he said, "Hey, take care Buddy!"
Dang!
7 comments:
It is hereditary. I am the absolute worst with names. People will tell me their name and it will go in one ear and out the other. Despite my inability to remember names I am a pro at remembering useless information about that person. I might not be able to tell you what letter their name starts with but I will be able to tell you where they are from, what they majored in in college, and whether or not they like avocados.
Useless.
Too true! I remember trivial facts and have a good memory for events and what happened. Your Mom, on the other hand, while expert at name remembering, cannot remember where she went on vacation, or what we did last week. Strange use of our mental storage capacity.
DAD
What is the female version of 'Buddy'? I just want to make sure you didn't use it on me. If you EVER forget my name...there goes your biggest fan and the only dummy who laughs at your jokes. You need me, don't forget me.
No, you guys were the easy names to remember. I just could not remember the names of everyone else at the table besides you guys!
Female version??? Hmmmm. If you are old enough you can use Sweety and Dear cause if you think about it, that is what every old lady refers to you as...
But since you are too young to qualify for that method I would suppose you would probably just ask them their name again.
It tortures me when I can't think of someone's name, especially when they clearly remember yours.
Thanks for the post,uhhh... Buddy!
I think we should all wear name tags at all times and in all situations. I was at a funeral recently where I saw someone who looked vaguely familiar. I greeted him casually and briefly, then walked away and realized it was the grieving widower whose wife's funeral I was attending! So sad.
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