Dear Reader:

Isn’t one of the most exasperating annoyances (that start occurring as we age) forgetting names and words?

When I looked up the reasons for this common frustration…it deals with harmones, aging glands, and several other technical, medical problems that are best left alone…but to summarize…everything is starting to dry up or slow down in its function of getting the “right stuff” to the brain  on time.

One of the most commonly heard expressions is “It was just on the tip of my tongue!”  So I thought it would be kinda fun to look up the origin….Nothing much appeared on the nationality of the origin because in almost every country…the expression can be found…it is an universal problem.

When I got to that part of the definition I could visualize it quite well. I remember one summer trying to get up enough nerve to go off the high dive….only to have some goofy boy behind me….walk out and push me off. I was furious…but I, also, discovered that I wasn’t afraid to jump or dive off the high diving board any more.

Wouldn’t it be nice if a friend could thump us on our back when our memory bank fails us…thus releasing the word or name (off the tip of our tongue) back into the conversation?

Did you know that there is actually a word for this common occurrence? It is called LETHOLOGICA.

“The word “lethologica” describes the state of not being able to remember the word you want.”

It would be kinda cool the next time I have a “senior moment” recalling a word… if I could stop and say: ” I apologize but but I am suffering from lethologica.”  The only problem is- I would never be able to remember the term lethologica.…so that idea would fall pretty flat.

One suggestion (from a group of medical “specialists”) for curing “lethologica” suggested that the speaker  define the word he/she can’t recall and let others help him/her identify it.

I can see this becoming quite annoying for the others at the table….it would be like playing word charades.

I might say: “I can hardly wait until Saturday to see the grandchildren all dressed up, in their costumes,  go ….. go….hummm…. go …you know… walking around to other people’s houses asking for candy?”  

Trick or Treating?….”Yes thank you…how embarrassing…the perils of aging gray matter grow stronger each year.”

Having “lethologica” is sometimes disturbing…but after cancer…it really is just a little annoyance. In fact…the way I look at it now…it simply means that we have lived long enough to have earned this trivial “bump” along our time-line.

We, recall word sufferers of a certain age, should be able to wear a large button on our shirt or blouse that says:

“I SUFFER FROM LETHOLOGICA…DON’T EXPECT ME TO REMEMBER YOUR NAME”

So until tomorrow….Don’t worry about forgetting words…just never forget “The Word.”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Poor little Jakie has been having tummy problems…nothing major…but just enough to prevent him from attending pre-school…so I went over to keep him yesterday and we had so much fun….will show you more photos tomorrow….but here’s to Jakie!

( The only time I don’t have to worry about forgetting a phrase…“I love you” is with the grandchildren- Jakie, Eva Cate, Rutledge, and Lachlan!)