I was pretty embarassed last night after I accidentally sent a pizza delivery-guy all over hell’s half-acre because my memory played a bizarre and sneaky trick on me.
The driver called about 45 minutes after I placed the order to confirm my address. I told him what I told the person who took the order-- 2728 E. 33rd Avenue.*
The guy told me that there was no 2728 E. 33rd Avenue, and asked if I meant West 33rd. Nope.
After some confusing back-and-forth, I realized what had happened-- I’d given him the house number of the last house I lived at-- over on Triumph Street, on the north side of the city. Seven years ago.
The guy looked at me a bit funny when he doubled back the twenty-odd blocks out of his way I’d sent him-- because he’s brought pizza out to our place about once-a-week for at least four years. He could probably remember my address without any difficulty if someone asked for it.
If asked to, I would have sworn that my house number was 2728. I had to actually go out on the porch and look to remember what it was.
Never mind that I’ve been using the same address for seven years-- how can a nerd like me forget the number 1024?
I hope it was a one-shot deal-- I can’t afford many more $10 conciliatory tips.
*Actual address altered somewhat to protect the muddy.
At least you were a darlin and apologized and tipped him.
Krisfer , the pizza delivery person…
and if its any consolation you arent the first person to give out the wrong address and insist on the phone, that its right even as I stand were that address doesn’t exist…
wrtite your address on the phone… or the wall above the phone…
I cannot remember my friend’s phone number. Ive called her oh at least once every two weeks for the last year since she moved to that house and number.
I grew up in that town. I grew up in the same first three digit dialing prefix. It isnt 456- 8844, but its very similar to that. Same sort of numerical symetry. My favourite number is in it, TWICE,
and I CANNOT remmber it. I write it down. I lose the number. It goes in address books… those adress books get sucked into a vortex and I assume are partying with several single earings, lost ski gloves and socks.
I have spent more money calling long distance directory assistance.
It happens. We all have blank spots. but knowing we have blank sports is what makes the difference between us and people with Alzheimers. Also, we carry keys. * (Or at least I do)
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*In all my experience working in mental health, Psych wards, dementia wards, it is the keys which separate the residents from the workers.
I can’t remember my own cell phone number, but I can remember the phone number off my boyfriend forty-seven years ago.
I have been told that with Alzheimer’s, the word that you have forgotten never comes back to you. So now when I forget the word that I know I know, I live in sheer terror until I can remember it.
I’ve noticed one really strange thing about my memory. When I go into a room after something and I forget what it was, often I can count on my hands to remember for me. For example, if I’m looking for the a chapstick, my hands will automatically go to my lips. If I’m after the scissors, my index finger and bird finger tap together.
