Is It Memory Loss or Is It Just a Momentary Lapse?

If you know my Mother, you know that she has a mind like a steel trap. She knows your business! She can easily recite names (yours, your kids, your grandkids, your siblings, etc.), birthdays, the city you live in, the place your work, what you do for a living, and probably what you ate for dinner last night (if you told her those details). Seriously, she is amazing. If the data is stored in her brain, she can usually quickly access it.

So, when Mom came home from Bingo last night and started telling me the stories, it was a bit disconcerting to hear her say things like "I was telling them that Denny was coming to visit us tomorrow and when they asked me where he lived... I couldn't remember." My gosh... she knows where Denny lives... she can probably tell you the last few addresses that Denny had... but when under pressure to give an answer, she couldn't remember.

If this was a single incident, I'd say it was a momentary lapse. But we had this same conversation 3 times yesterday! She was talking about relatives we had in California. She couldn't remember what city Denny lived in, what city Jeanette lived in, and what city Larry & Sharon lived in. She couldn't even put it in the ballpark, such as Denny lives near SF. This, for me, is frightening. My Mom... the keeper of the family's information... can't remember. Wow.

The good news is that when Mom actually thought about the answers to those questions, she did remember. We haven't lost that data. Looks like we still have time to put together that family tree with names, birthdates, and all that good stuff.

Prior to this incident, I really didn't understand Mom's "obsession" with collecting information about the family. I now realize that when her generation passes on, that it'll be up to me (and all the other FIRST COUSINS), to be the "keepers of family information". Our family history depends on this. Who we are depends on this. Who we will be depends on this. Another life lesson learned: Exploring the past shows you just how far you've progressed and shows you what strengths you possess. Talk about an "aha" moment!

Thank goodness it's just a momentary lapse... at least for now... and not permanent memory loss!