A Moment Like This

Now that I’m *ahem* the age I am, I gotta tell ya living in the moment is overrated. In fact, it’s darned near impossible.

I’m quite adept—and becoming more so every day!—at recalling even the most fragmented bits of minutia from the past. I can tell you precisely how much my wedding gown cost, down to the penny, and produce the receipt from Sherri’s Bridal to prove my point. I know how much it cost to deliver each of my three children. Heck, I even know how much my parents had to pay the hospital to produce the likes of me—$140, cash on the barrel.

When I worked for a major pharmaceutical company in the early ‘70s, I was coerced into believing that I could not do my job (data entry clerk) unless I memorized upwards of several thousand product stock numbers. I didn’t realize until much later that NO ONE had been asked to do this before or after my successful feat, but do you think I can forget those numbers to this day? I cannot.

I am able to recreate the details of my mother’s complicated medical history as if it’s child’s play. I know the doses of Valium she’s been prescribed beginning in 1964 up until, well, now.

I’m also quite nimble when it comes to planning for the future. I rarely need to record next week’s appointments on a calendar, though I do so anyway because it seems like the responsible thing to do. I don’t forget birthdays or the fact that we’re almost out of toilet paper. I remember to check our account balances online regularly and certainly don’t skip making a deposit on payday.

I never miss a meal, either, but I’m thinking you’d probably guessed that already.

So, tell me, why can’t I remember a SINGLE simple item long enough to turn off the water in the shower, grab a towel, and find a pen? It could be something REALLY IMPORTANT that needs to happen promptly, like reminding Doug to call his mother to tell her not to put her coat on yet because he’s not picking her up for lunch until next week, and I can’t remember it to save my life.

Many nights I have dreams that seem to hold special meaning for my life RIGHT NOW. I keep a pen and paper on my nightstand for just such purposes, but invariably when the dream occurs, I tell myself it is of such enormous significance that I can’t possibly forget it.

Two hours later, when the alarm goes off? I got nothin’.

So, if you’re one of those people who manages to live in the moment, would you mind clueing me in?

Until then, I’ll keep on reminiscing about the past and plotting out the future. Maybe somehow, with all of that covered, the present will take care of itself.

Posted by Katy on 04/21/08 at 05:14 PM

Fallible Comments...

When is your novel based on Mom coming out? Can't wait to read it...
Posted by Patti on 04/21/08 at 06:50 PM
I'm right there with you. I remember trivial details from years ago like they are nobody's business, but remembering things in the here and now ...not a chance. Somebody once told me to improve your short-term memory you need to switch up your routine often. I guess we get so used to the same-old same-old we find comfort with the pattern and blind ourselves to the small variations.
On second thought, maybe that person was just trying to tell me that I'm old and set in my ways. ;-)
Posted by Kathryn Harris on 04/22/08 at 11:56 AM
You have such a precious personality
Posted by Angela on 04/22/08 at 03:58 PM
I think I cost my parents $70, but I am a couple of years older than you and it was a relatively small town. I think my parents may have gotten the clergy discount. My older sister only cost $35 but, as they say, you get what you pay for.

There are a lot of details about my mom's side of the family that I didn't learn until Aunt June was a good 10 years into dementia, and then for some reason she decided to unburden herself on me. So now I am the bearer of the family secrets that no one wants to talk about or even know about. Just wait until my book comes out!!
Posted by alison on 04/24/08 at 03:09 PM
Don't even get me started on trying to switch our medical insurance from a Washington account to an Idaho account (with the same company)...I should have sent them a bill for all the different phone calls WE had to make to get it done.

Good rant!
Posted by GodlyDads.com on 04/25/08 at 09:23 AM

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Personal blog of christian writer & fallible mom Katy McKenna Raymond in Kansas City, Missouri Katy is represented by Greg Johnson at WordServe Literary Read more Katy at LateBoomer.net Follow Katy on Twitter Follow Katy on Facebook 123 Recent Posts Try Becoming Brenda Starr Off Beat Scattered That’s It So I’ve Finally Signed With An Agent. Now What? The Spoon Sciatica Sweetheart A Woman’s Train of Thought Has No Caboose However much we own, we are all still living on borrowed time After all, when restaurants shrink portions, they don’t shrink prices. As with everything in life, balance is key. Slow down, you move too fast… Yeah, I know. I have issues. Search Advanced Search Syndicate Login E me at katy @ ngenius.com	A Moment Like This Now that I’m ahem the age I am, I gotta tell ya living in the moment is overrated. In fact, it’s darned near impossible. I’m quite adept—and becoming more so every day!—at recalling even the most fragmented bits of minutia from the past. I can tell you precisely how much my wedding gown cost, down to the penny, and produce the receipt from Sherri’s Bridal to prove my point. I know how much it cost to deliver each of my three children. Heck, I even know how much my parents had to pay the hospital to produce the likes of me—$140, cash on the barrel. When I worked for a major pharmaceutical company in the early ‘70s, I was coerced into believing that I could not do my job (data entry clerk) unless I memorized upwards of several thousand product stock numbers. I didn’t realize until much later that NO ONE had been asked to do this before or after my successful feat, but do you think I can forget those numbers to this day? I cannot. I am able to recreate the details of my mother’s complicated medical history as if it’s child’s play. I know the doses of Valium she’s been prescribed beginning in 1964 up until, well, now. I’m also quite nimble when it comes to planning for the future. I rarely need to record next week’s appointments on a calendar, though I do so anyway because it seems like the responsible thing to do. I don’t forget birthdays or the fact that we’re almost out of toilet paper. I remember to check our account balances online regularly and certainly don’t skip making a deposit on payday. I never miss a meal, either, but I’m thinking you’d probably guessed that already. So, tell me, why can’t I remember a SINGLE simple item long enough to turn off the water in the shower, grab a towel, and find a pen? It could be something REALLY IMPORTANT that needs to happen promptly, like reminding Doug to call his mother to tell her not to put her coat on yet because he’s not picking her up for lunch until next week, and I can’t remember it to save my life. Many nights I have dreams that seem to hold special meaning for my life RIGHT NOW. I keep a pen and paper on my nightstand for just such purposes, but invariably when the dream occurs, I tell myself it is of such enormous significance that I can’t possibly forget it. Two hours later, when the alarm goes off? I got nothin’. So, if you’re one of those people who manages to live in the moment, would you mind clueing me in? Until then, I’ll keep on reminiscing about the past and plotting out the future. Maybe somehow, with all of that covered, the present will take care of itself. Posted by Katy on 04/21/08 at 05:14 PM Fallible Comments... When is your novel based on Mom coming out? Can't wait to read it... Posted by Patti on 04/21/08 at 06:50 PM I'm right there with you. I remember trivial details from years ago like they are nobody's business, but remembering things in the here and now ...not a chance. Somebody once told me to improve your short-term memory you need to switch up your routine often. I guess we get so used to the same-old same-old we find comfort with the pattern and blind ourselves to the small variations. On second thought, maybe that person was just trying to tell me that I'm old and set in my ways. ;-) Posted by Kathryn Harris on 04/22/08 at 11:56 AM You have such a precious personality Posted by Angela on 04/22/08 at 03:58 PM I think I cost my parents $70, but I am a couple of years older than you and it was a relatively small town. I think my parents may have gotten the clergy discount. My older sister only cost $35 but, as they say, you get what you pay for. There are a lot of details about my mom's side of the family that I didn't learn until Aunt June was a good 10 years into dementia, and then for some reason she decided to unburden herself on me. So now I am the bearer of the family secrets that no one wants to talk about or even know about. Just wait until my book comes out!! Posted by alison on 04/24/08 at 03:09 PM Don't even get me started on trying to switch our medical insurance from a Washington account to an Idaho account (with the same company)...I should have sent them a bill for all the different phone calls WE had to make to get it done. Good rant! Posted by GodlyDads.com on 04/25/08 at 09:23 AM Page 1 of 1 pages Commenting is not available in this weblog entry. Next entry: There's A Whole Bunch Of Stuff I'm Not Being Paid To Do--A Mild Rant Previous entry: Twenty-four << Back to main


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Personal blog of christianwriter & fallible momKaty McKenna Raymondin Kansas City, Missouri

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A Moment Like This

Personal blog of christian
writer & fallible mom
Katy McKenna Raymond
in Kansas City, Missouri