Friday, May 8, 2009

The absent-minded something-or-other.

I spent half an hour today trying to find my iPod. I remembered distinctly unhooking its earphones, trying to get the hardware out of the way when I was cleaning the kitchen. But where'd I put it? No idea. I had a vague recollection of sliding it inside something, out of sight, and of thinking at that moment, "I'm going to forget that I put this thing here." Sure enough.

I spend an inordinate amount of time looking for things I've "cleaned up." My keys. The bill that was sitting on the counter so that I'd remember to pay it (but then I was irritated because it was on the counter, and I moved the offending paper out of the way by sliding it in between two cookbooks). My wallet spends more time missing than found. The book I was reading just a few minutes ago, the one I set down right over here somewhere....

I tell myself that my brain doesn't have space for this kind of information, because it's too occupied with the date of Donne's first sermon or the difference between "sedge" and "furze." But this may be merely an excuse, justification for the day-planner without which I panic knowing that unless I note in its pages "Take your ass today," I'll leave it home. Probably between a pair of dictionaries.

In case you're wondering: the iPod was in the cupboard, naturally, between two boxes of cereal.

7 comments:

Ink said...

LOL. Sounds like your breakfast food was rocking out. ;)

Am very much relating to this post topic...right now, we can't find the remote for the tv. How is that even misplaceable? Turn it on, turn it off. So bizarre...

Anonymous said...

That's funny. My mother does things like that all the time. We find shoes in the fridge, toothpaste in the purse, earrings in the medicine cabinet, books on the washer and/or dryer... LOL.

Lisa B. said...

It may get worse. But I think the best thing is to (a) make lists and plans (like your plan to take your ass along), and (b) laugh. Well done for finding it, it would have been tragic to lose it.

Blue Cheese said...

It´s just your age. Don´t worry.

Renaissance Girl said...

Cheese--

Would that it could be ascribed to my age. I've been doing this since I was 16.

Ryan and Janelle said...

Ha ha too funny! You must have a lot on your mind! If you start finding keys in the freezer...you just might want to be checked for Alzheimer’s!

Fie upon this quiet life! said...

My husband has been doing stuff like this (reportedly) since he was quite young. He frequently will put something like the remote control into the freezer, but leave Popsicles out on the counter to melt away.

Last week, he had strep throat. I had made a bowl of cereal for my son and one for me. I said to husband, "Do you want me to leave the milk out for you?" He said yes, but five or so minutes went by and then he came into the kitchen finally. He poured some cereal for himself and then proceeded to drink from the milk jug (with his strep throat germs!). I said, "What the hell? Do you want us all to get sick?" He said, "I didn't know if the milk was sour. I might have left it out all night." I said, "But I just asked you if you wanted me to leave it out." He said, "Oh, right. I'm still waking up." I said, "What would you have done if it were sour?" He said, "Probably would have had eggs for breakfast." (Yeah -- right after throwing up. Ugh.)

Needless to say, all of us got strep throat. Whether it was from the milk or not is unknown.