Grey Matter Matters

I recently visited family in Texas, and many discussions focused on past events. I frequently found there were times when I was at a loss to determine the WHEN of our shared life events. I could recall the WHAT, the WHERE, the HOW, and the WHY things happened, but I just couldn’t place them on a timeline. I had to rely upon the younger generation to determine the WHEN. Usually, their estimations were based on their age and grade level at the time of the event. True, there were several times when their shared memories included events I did not recall at all.

This got me to thinking about memory and whether mine is slipping.

Believing that I am of sound mind, I normally go about my business as I always have, but there are times when I will go into a room to get something and can’t remember what I had come to do or get.

The cause lies in the physical structure of door frames.

Through years of study, I have developed a theory about this type of memory glitch. Obviously, a doorway creates a magnetic force that is so strong that mental tapes are erased as a person passes through the portal. So, being aware of this fact, it is reasonable to assume that this type of memory lapse is normal, or at least something humans have no control over. While this type of lapse is not a new experience, I must admit the frequency seems to be increasing.

When thinking about memory, it dawned on me that there are things that I would like to forget, like the brutality of the deaths associated with the current strong-arm tactics deployed by ICE. I would also like to forget about the rising cost of gas, food, and drugs. I would like to forget about the Epstein files and the damaged lives that have been documented, with no one held to account. I would like to forget that we are currently at war, but I can’t; the constant news coverage and the demands of conscience make forgetting impossible.

Another thing I would like to forget is the occurrence of mass murders at the hands of a deranged person with access to a gun.

I would also like to forget about income tax season. But unfortunately, forgetting to file them and pay them would be an expensive forget.

I have always tended to forget things like birthdays and anniversaries. In fact, on the very day I turned 21 and could legally buy a beer in Texas, I forgot it was my birthday. I had just arrived at work, and the principal of the school where I taught called out a birthday greeting. I turned around and asked him whose birthday it was.

I also forget people’s names, so be prepared to tell me who you are when we chance to meet. In fact, I am so bad with names that if name tags are offered, I put mine on upside down so I can just look down and check, so I know who I am.

Recently, I mentioned to an acquaintance that my forgetfulness seems to be increasing, and she patiently explained to me that the reason was that at the root of each hair there is a tiny suction cup that sucks out the gray matter under your skull. As it does its work, your hair will begin to turn gray. At first, there are just a few gray hairs. However, soon there will be many. Obviously, the brain drain speed increases with age until your whole head of hair is white.

I suppose that means that all the gray matter is gone.

That supposition led me to another train of thought. Now I am beginning to wonder if the raft of elected white-haired politicians could be contributing to some of the problems the country is currently experiencing. Maybe all their problem-solving, innovative-thinking gray matter is gone. When it comes to the fate of our country, are we doomed to be dependent upon the aged, brainless, white-haired politicos?

Of course, with the flurry of varied applications of AI, that argument may be moot. However, I am afraid that dependence upon computerized Artificial Intelligence won’t cut it in the face of operating within the human limitations of Actual Ignorance.

Gray matter matters.

Award-winning writer Carolyn Wiley lives quietly, for the most part, in Longbranch.