Attacked by the Short-Term Memory Loss Bug
By Marsha
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
Midland, Michigan
April 26, 2017 6:18am CST
As some of you already know we run a window cleaning business in the warm months of the year. Another thing some of you have heard before is that we do a bit of bartering too. We barter with my dentist, my eye doctor and also a small store in the area that sells better quality shoes. I wash their windows monthly and when I need a new pair of shoes or sandals I'll leave them a receipt so they know I was there, but they don't pay me until I've done enough work to match the price of whatever shoes I'm interested in.
We began doing this in 2005 when we were going to Hawaii for vacation and needed nice sandals. She offered this idea and both my husband and I got two new pairs of sandals for cleaning her windows. At that time we cleaned them every three weeks, but now we only do them monthly so it takes a bit longer.
Last summer I cleaned the siding on the building by hand using The Works Bathroom cleaner. The hardest part was rinsing. There was a hose hooked up on the side facing the main street that I was able to use, but no hook up for any hose on the other side, so I had to use a bucket for rinsing which took longer.
Yesterday when we went in to clean her windows, she told me she owed my about one hundred and fifty dollars. I didn't understand until I discovered she'd forgotten or didn't know I'd already picked up my product. She wondered why I wasn't wearing my new shoes and I looked down and wondered the same thing. In fact, I couldn't even get a mind picture of what my new shoes looked like. I told her I had to wear different shoes for therapy after my surgery and forgot all about the ones I got from her before winter.
I was really bothered because I just couldn't come up with the memory of what shoes I ended up going with until I was about ready to leave the store. I thought I was going to have to do some hunting around the house to find what shoes they were, but then remembered at the last minute.
I figured out why I hadn't been wearing my shoes or why I didn't even remember which shoes I got and that's because they weren't shoes but boots. The boots on the left are the ones I got. I've not had boots in over ten years and because their shoes run smaller than what I need I decided to try some boots since I can't afford them otherwise. They ordered a larger pair and they work fine since I don't wear them all day long. I needed something I could easily get into without twisting my foot too much since my knee was so bad back then.
I hope none of you get that bug, AND, I do Not ever say that I had a 'senior moment', for I think a lot has to do with how busy we all are.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Btw, I'll be around most of the day today and tomorrow as I'm not doing windows. Rain is in the forecast for this afternoon into tomorrow, so I have two doctors appointments tomorrow and will try to keep procrastination at bay today and accomplish lots. In between I'll get my breaks here, see you around.
15 people like this
14 responses
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
I've found, for about the last couple of years, that I can't remember some simple words when talking, but I know that I'd have no problem with it if I were writing instead. At least it doesn't happen all the time and I'm sure it's the same way with you too. Otherwise, we're just a bit impatient with ourselves and need to give ourselves more of a break to come up with whatever it is we're wanting to say.
@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
26 Apr 17
I get lots of such senior moments
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@arthurchappell (45002)
• Preston, England
27 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman I have always been given to bouts of absent mindedness
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Apr 17
I don't think it has anything or as much to do with age as everyone seems to think.
Unless you're not as busy as the rest of us, but you seem to be to me with all you do around there. Maybe our busy lifestyles are more to blame than our ages? I'm hoping it doesn't get much worse as I get older.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Apr 17
@arthurchappell Always, even when you were young, or more in the last ten to twenty years or so?
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@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
28 Apr 17
It is fantastic that you are able to barter like that!
I used to have an exceptional memory. Lately, though, I have been noticing quite a few problems with my memory. There are things that I know I should be able to recall but cannot. I will tell a story one time but when asked about it another time I cannot recall the details. Of course, eventually I am able to remember, but it is usually not until long past when it is relevant. I think it is due to stress.
There are some kinds of stress that make my brain work better, such as waiting until the last minute to do a report. Other kinds of stress, though, seem to affect my memory in a negative way, and the more of this sort of stress I am under the worse my memory tends to be. On a positive note, when the stress lessens, my memory issues tend to get better.
I used to have an exceptional memory. Lately, though, I have been noticing quite a few problems with my memory. There are things that I know I should be able to recall but cannot. I will tell a story one time but when asked about it another time I cannot recall the details. Of course, eventually I am able to remember, but it is usually not until long past when it is relevant. I think it is due to stress.
There are some kinds of stress that make my brain work better, such as waiting until the last minute to do a report. Other kinds of stress, though, seem to affect my memory in a negative way, and the more of this sort of stress I am under the worse my memory tends to be. On a positive note, when the stress lessens, my memory issues tend to get better.1 person likes this
@purplealabaster (22094)
• United States
3 May 17
@MarshaMusselman I am the same way as you are with every day business stuff, but I do find that it is easier if I can remember (and motivate myself) to do it as I go along. Taxes and reports, on the other hand, I have tried to do when I had plenty of time, and they turned out rubbish. I found myself missing tax information, and my reports did not have the proper flow. I think it is important to figure out what our best time constraints are and try to work within them. Of course, I am laughing to myself as I say that, because when does life ever let us do such a thing?
It sounds like you are going to be very busy throughout the summer. That should be good for you financially, but it sounds like you won't get much time to stop and enjoy the summer.
It sounds like you are going to be very busy throughout the summer. That should be good for you financially, but it sounds like you won't get much time to stop and enjoy the summer.1 person likes this
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
3 May 17
Fro waiting until the last minute, I tend to work better when doing projects that way especially filing or taxes, but I'm sure it would work better doing it as I go I just haven't experienced it as much in the last several years. Then, I wouldn't have so much to keep track of if I did it as I went, and maybe my mind would remember other things better. Now, what a novel idea. It doesn't mean I'll do it any quicker though.
I'm doing better right now because I need to purchase more invoices for the business from an office supply store but that costs money which I don't have extra of yet. Therefore, I'm printing them off from my bookkeeping program I use. That ensures that the invoices are already input, I just still need to get the payments received in there, the deposits and checks written. I've not done all that since the end of last year.
It won't take long if I do it soon as these past few months have been slow, but if I continue to wait we'll be busier both with the business and me with my regular job which I'll be going back to next month again.
(Just saw that I'd not replied to your nice response and that's the main way you make anything here) Have a great day.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
4 May 17
@purplealabaster Oh, I should enjoy it fine. Maybe not as much as I would if I were retired, but then I'd be worrying all the time about our bills and I'd rather work to try to whittle those down as much as possible before I do retire.
I'll make sure I get out side and do some weeding and maybe even plant more flowers. I have bulbs waiting and some seeds. Most of the seeds are old, but I'm hopeful they'll still grow somewhat.
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@LadyDuck (458212)
• Switzerland
26 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman It's not a bug, I think that we have too many things to take care of, our brains sometimes needs a rest.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
@LadyDuck I realize it's not a bug, I just liked the sound of that for a title and maybe a bit to reel people in
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
Oh, I'm not worried about it any more, it was just before I realized it was boots I got and not shoes that I was a tad worried since I didn't have any idea whatsoever which shoes I may have gotten and why I hadn't been wearing them. Remembering the boots brought everything back to mind and I'm good now.
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@pgntwo (22408)
• Derry, Northern Ireland
27 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman Or perhaps your husband played an unintentional part in the transaction, resulting in the confusion that ensued...?
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Apr 17
@pgntwo No,. he had nothing to do with this one. Since I got the boots before Christmas and haven't worn them since before my surgery the end of Feb, I'd forgotten that was what I got this time instead of shoes. Too much time has passed is all.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Apr 17
That's an interesting way to think about it. I'm not sure when distraction set in on the situation above. Had she asked me a month or two earlier about my 'shoes' I hopefully would have remembered what I got sooner.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
I'm hoping the first one which is with the surgeon has a medical reason that is valid on why I can't return to work just yet. Work, or at least the leave management department at corporate thinks I should be able to come back to work on restricted hours and duties. The problem is if I can't manage it then I'll miss out on the disability pay I'm currently getting. I don't think I can still get it if I'm working a few hours and it wouldn't kick back in immediately if I worked a week and then had to be off again.
Several people think the dr would have his way easily since this is a knee that's healing and not an arm or another body part. Then, I'm getting an adjustment from my normal doctor and hopefully he'll give me a referral for a chiropractor. It used to be, years ago, that we could see whomever we wanted without needing a referral but no more.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Apr 17
@CRK109 The disability pay I'm already getting is from work not the government. If we want it we can pay a small amount out of each check toward it. It's worth it. It's about one hundred less than my normal check but better than nothing. I couldn't have had the surgery had I not had it as my premiums would still need to be paid.
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@CRK109 (14558)
• United States
27 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman I now know about needing referrals and I hate it. I found a glucometer that my insurance would pay for me. The pharmacy had it and agreed that it would be free. However, I could not get it without a referral from the doctor. And the doctor was on vacation. So I had to wait until he came back, until he okay'd it and until his staff sent the information to the pharmacy. Since insurance had already agreed that it was the right one for me, seems they should have just let me get it. I hope things work out with your disability pay. I know there's a lot of red tape involved with that, too. But that's only because too many people cheat the system. Hurts the rest of us who really need the help!
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@celticeagle (159058)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Apr 17
I hope it is not a bug. That would be scary. I've had this affliction for quite some time now.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
With you being retired you shouldn't have it as bad as some of us. So, maybe it's not because I'm so busy. Or even though you're retired and can spend a lot of your time mylotting, because you're housing your daughter *(is it?) and your grandson that changes a lot too.
It gives you more to keep in mind and keep straight.
@Letranknight2015 (51532)
• Philippines
26 Apr 17
I've heard before that when you entered the door to the other side of the room or places in the house, that's when you forget it. make sure you got a list, unfortunately I don't do that myself and remembers after entering a room.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
I've noticed the door thing before too. It's almost like a veil covers your eyes and memory at that point, but I think you're still on the young side. Wait till it happens when you're standing in one spot or sitting at your desk.
@PatZAnthony (14752)
• Charlotte, North Carolina
28 Apr 17
Rain in the forecast here too!
Hoping that memory loss bug stays away from all of us!
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
28 Apr 17
At least it doesn't hit me that bad most of the time, lol.
@amadeo (111948)
• United States
26 Apr 17
@MarshaMusselman I have a lot of story on mind.But some of them are too weird to tell.LOL
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
@amadeo Well... a lot of us like weird stories but I guess it might depend on how weird.
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
Oh, I'm not worried about it. It was just a bit odd. I don't get all that many shoes from them in that manner and when I did this last time I think I looked at shoes a bit before deciding to go with the boots. For a bit there, before I remembered, I thought I took them home and never wore them at all.
Once I realized it was boots not shoes, it made more sense why I'd not been wearing them. I did wear them quite a bit before my surgery. I don't know that most women forget what new shoes they got recently and that's partially why it was so weird.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
Thank you. It;s sunny with big white fluffy clouds right now, but it's supposed to begin raining this afternoon and rain all the way through tomorrow. But for now, I'm trying to get extra things done while it's sunny.
You have a nice day yourself.
@andriaperry (116860)
• Anniston, Alabama
26 Apr 17
Yes we all have those moments and I think its awesome you barter .
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
With the shoes and related items it takes me several months to get to the price needed of whatever item is desire. I guess it takes a while for the dentist and eye doctor too it's just that they are willing to do the work first and then let me pay it over time in that fashion, whereas with the shoe store I do the work first.
The only problem is the eye doctors homes are large with lots of windows and I can't do it all alone. So, I have to pay my crew to do jobs that I won't get money for in that sense. When I do the work on those I need to make sure I have enough coming in from regular customers to pay my bills and pay their payroll too.
@chrissbergstrom (10767)
• Banks, Oregon
26 Apr 17
How neat to have a bartering system that sounds very much how i have heard my older family did in the past, nice to know there still some people and places whom work on a barter system.
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@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
27 Apr 17
I don't think I would have thought to ask at the shoe place, but we wanted new sandals for Hawaii and she said we could work it out with windows. Since then I've done it several times.
@MarshaMusselman (38659)
• Midland, Michigan
26 Apr 17
I didn't forget as much when I was younger, but I wasn't this busy back then either. My daughters though aren't even thirty yet and they will forget things just like I do now. They are busier than I was at that age though.
I do hear a lot of people that will give that 'senior moment' answer and I wanted to nip that in the bud as that's not it at all.
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