The aches and pains of aging are one thing. I expect that.
Short term memory loss is another. I expect that too.
However,
Planned Forgetting requires some immediate attention.
Have you ever looked around for a foolproof hiding place for your special treasures?
Well, that’s what I was going about doing.
Where could I hide my favorite locket?
- How about the freezer? No, that’s old-hat.
- Hide it in one of those mini boxes with secret ways to open? Nope. Probably well known to marauders.
- In the back of a desk file drawer? Not there either – thieves would probably look there first.
- In a shoe box with some shoes. No, No, No!
- Finally there it was – the perfect spot. “I WILL remember this place! I MUST remember!”
You can see where this is going. I was consciously, knowingly planning to forget and stored the locket in the pocket of a favorite off-season jacket.
And of course I did forget both the locket and the jacket.
Weeks later I wanted to wear the locket but where was it?
I looked in the mini treasure box, the desk drawer, the files in the desk drawer, the freezer, all the logical storage spots, and every box of shoes (including Bill’s). This took hours of emptying and reassembling drawers, thinking and thinking, retracing steps.
“It’s no big deal,” I thought, “How important are such things in life anyway?”
But it wasn’t the loss that was so frustrating, it was the fact that I could not remember where I put it, that I knew I would not remember where I put it, and my own prophecy had come true.
Finally on the verge of tears, I tried one last place.
“It must be in a pocket! My mother always hid things in pockets!” That meant going through the pockets of all the slacks, tops and vests in the closet, and finally the jackets. Touching the last jacket I knew the locket had to be there.
And there it was!
And that is the essence of “Planned Forgetting!”
If you are a robber and want my pretty locket, well, come and get it!
It’s will now forever reside in an old fashioned junk jewelry box in plain sight.
Hopefully I will not forget I didn’t plan to forget another hiding place and then forget that it is in the jewelry box right under my nose.
Oh, Dor. I spend so much time looking for things any more. I can feel your frustration. Just look at all the straightening and sorting we get done in the meantime!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t begin to tell you how many things I’ve discovered in coat pockets months after I lost them. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to admit there are benefits to forgetfulness…. Thanks for reminding me Patti! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thank you Sheryl. I am so glad I am not alone.
LikeLike
This happens to me all the time. I hide stuff from my husband, like computer memory sticks, so he won’t erase them, and then I forget where I put them, so they end up, errrrrr, lost, which is better than erased. Right?
I am 59.
What would you predict for me in 20 years, if God help me, I am still alive?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh hell, I do that all the time. Forget is my middle name LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! I have a hard enough time finding things in plain sight, Dor. 🙂 Pretty locket!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! Oh the things I’ve put in a “safe place” never to resurface again for years.
LikeLiked by 1 person
This sounds so familiar. When I lived in my old house, prior to a vacation I put my jewelry in the ceiling above some removable panels. For the life of me I could not remember which panel it was in back of. I was in 50s then. It’s been downhill ever since.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are definitely not alone on this one Dora. The times I have put things away in a SAFE place where I’m sure I will remember them ! But of course I don’t ,and when I do find said object its usually right under my nose. So what I do now is……Ask John to watch where I am putting anything important saying !! Now you see where I am putting this which is either,in the front of my handbag or in the pocket at the back of my handbag,or in the corner cupboard hanging on the wall, or last but not least in my large antique box in the wardrobe. It works most times.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Look at me Cindy for a fairly accurate picture of your long-term memory status!
LikeLike
This is good to hear Cindy! I think I can remember my middle name though. LOL! 🙂
LikeLike
Come to think of it, plain sight is a challenge too! 🙂
LikeLike
Wonder what I will find years from now in all those safe places. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, now that is so funny Kate – about not remembering which panel it was! Not a bad idea though – storing things in the ceiling. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! A keen observer might be the answer. The problem is Bill might not have such a good memory either. 🙂
LikeLike
There are lots of us in your shoes! To any thieves who might read this: I don’t have expensive jewelry, but when you ransack my house, I’m looking for three of my favorite cookbooks that didn’t resurface when we moved. They are very valuable to me! Ransom? Maybe. Make me an offer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hate it when I forget where I put stuff so I won’t lose them….and all those pesky passwords to accounts, there’s no wonder I remain in a state of confusion!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, gosh, this sounds so familiar. I can’t tell you all the things I cannot find and worry that they were trashed. I used to have lots of jewelry…now I can’t even remember what I had! So then, is it truly not lost if I can’t even remember it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike
Me too!
LikeLike
I know it was a relief to find it! Bet it was the last place you looked 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! I hope the robbers come through with an offer for those cookbooks Anne! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
LOL! I got a “password vault” but now have trouble remembering the password to get into it! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great approach to loss! There is no question that if you can’t remember what you lost it probably never existed in the first place. 🙂
LikeLike
How did you know it was in the last place I looked? You are my clairvoyant (sp?) friend! 🙂
LikeLike
I had a feeling you were going to say that Dora. !!
LikeLike
Ha! My sister gave me a card once that said something to the effect of – “if I lose my mind, I won’t miss it” which I thought pretty much summed it up. 🙂
LikeLike
LOL! You and your sister share a great sense of humor.
LikeLiked by 1 person