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I worry about it all the time…however, I try to tell myself that I am busier right now than i have been in a long long time…between work, blogging, writing, mom, and grandmom…I am constantly thinking about something I need to do…so that is my justification for brain drain right now. But, I often worry that I am on the path toward dementia…I hope an active brain will keep it away!
I go through the same thought but that active brain thing doesn’t always work. My father was a physician and he got it. He had a super active brain and body. sigh.
I was accused of daydreaming (true) for many years, then called an absent-minded professor (also with some validity), and now I forget to turn off the stove when I take the victuals off (for which they committed my grandmother to a nursing home, a frightening event I’ll never forget maybe). So, before we knew to call it dementia, I wasn’t as worried as I am now either.
As for living too long, there are really a couple of tragedies awaiting most of us. Either we die too young or we don’t. We’ve a lot of folk in the family (had them actually) who died in their fifties; the other group usually gets into their nineties or further. Bimodal. The early ones are lamented; the late ones usually (if they’re cogent) complain that (a) all their friends are gone, or (b) that their bodies have betrayed them and they’re trapped in them.
I vote for living longer, personally, but it isn’t for wimps when your eyesight, hearing, teeth, and nose start failing, and it was a lot more fun when arthritis didn’t make most movements hurt.
Either we die too young or we don’t. Yes. And you’re right, aging ain’t for sissies! Chuck, we should comfort ourselves with the thought that the most brilliant minds were considered absent-minded. In that case, you fall in the category and as for me, well, maybe I’m just too blonde.
I have done EXACTLY this kind of thing, more often than I like to admit, since I was a child! Maybe it gets worse with age, or maybe we just notice it more, but I think it has much more to do with having an active, curious, distractible kind of mind than it has to do with dementia. When you start forgetting what a chicken is, that’s the time to worry.
I look at this as a kind of blessing after having such an active brian for soooo long a little slow down is appreciated. Truth: No slow-down, just a great excuse to pretend I forgot to make dinner and pick-up the dry cleaning.
I love the idea of writing things down in the middle of the night…I never seem to do that. But it’s a definite must.
Good writing and fun reading! Your topic reminds me— I forget simple common WORDS!! Example? “eggplant”…couldn’t remember that for days. I googled pictures of vegetables and remembered that way. Can’t think of others right now…but I catch myself using other words to explain the word I’m forgetting!
At 48, I do not think I spend too much time thinking about this…exactly. I was recently given the “gift” of being thrown into medically induced menopause. As a result I get to try and deal with all the fun {NOT} side effects of the change of life. Night sweats…day sweats…sweating to DEATH in the middle of Walmart, etc. I also the “sieve brain” as you stated. BUT, 2 of my kids are still at home, I care for my aging in-laws that live with me, AND I have NO clue WHAT I should do with the next, I don;t know 50 years???
Like one comment says, some family of mine lived to 50, some to 90+. SO where will *I* fall.
Gee, now that I typed that, I am kinda hoping for a little past my 50’s!!
So, while I think the idea of living to a ripe old age of say 90 is inviting {I have no fear of death itself}, I hope I can find a way to set myself “up” as it were to keep sharp minded, participate in say a SR center when the time comes{I hate to say it, but the truth there is a steady influx of newbies to replace those that have gone on}, and to be sure I have not ticked off ALL of my kids so there’s a better chance they won’t put me off too soon :). I have 4 so there is a nice chance one of them will be willing to give me a room :).
VERY interesting topic as always!!
Taking each day as it comes, keeping both body and mind active is a lot more productive than worry. Worry is fear of something that as yet to happen. More importantly fear is something that aids you in creating your reality. You think it – it will happen.
My grandmother died of cancer, my mother from a stroke. My father has heart issues, my husband has depression. I am just as likely to be run over by a car!
I forget, I laugh lots, blame it on the menopause. I slow down a little and begin again. Life is good.