Overloading the Circuits

Here is a typical conversation at our home:

Mr. Ginley: "Have you seen the letter opener?"

Me: "I haven't touched your letter opener."

Mr. Ginley: "I know you don't use it, but have you seen it?"

Me: "No. Try looking for something else, and you'll find it."

This happens frequently, with one or the other of us in search of some minor household item that has gone astray.

Often, it only takes a moment. I start to head out the door, for example, and I set down my keys. After completing the task that distracted me, I pick up my purse and realize my keys are now gone. I retrace my steps and find that, against all logic, I left them in the freezer when I pulled out the package of hamburger for dinner.

One of the most common items to go missing is my phone. I can't give you a precise number of the times I've asked my husband or son to call me so I can follow the ringing to its hiding place. Of course, this is a fine trick for phones, which are able to tell you where they are, but for most things, there's usually some tearing out of hair that occurs before the object is located.

Young people will smirk and tell you that it's an age thing. But I've witnessed enough episodes with my 20-something son to know it's not.

I choose to believe it's because there's so much going on in my cranium, I've become absent-minded about the trivial stuff. The trouble is, sometimes the trivial becomes not so trivial. For example, if I've got something in the oven and I turn off the timer because it's almost but not quite done, then I walk away, and before I know it, it's too far beyond done.

Or when I go to get something out of the refrigerator that I'm absolutely positive I purchased at the grocery store, only to discover it in the trunk of my car, where it's been sitting for two days in 80 degree heat.

There's an old Disney movie called The Absent-Minded Professor. Fred MacMurray invents Flubber, but he forgets to show up for his own wedding. I feel like that some days. Except, of course, I'm not responsible for discovering anything that will rock the world.

I think I need a plan. Maybe I'll start wearing clothes that have big pockets so I can carry all of the essentials with me. Or pin notes to myself. And get clips for my gloves so I can attach them to my coat, the way my mom did when I was little. I could start to carry a timer with me so I don't lose track of time (although I'd probably forget why I set the timer in the first place).

Or maybe I just need to be more mindful. Hmm. That's probably the best idea of all. I think I'll write that down.

Now, where did I leave my pen...