Sounds like a typical Saturday for me....

[LYU370]

Recently, I was diagnosed with AAADD: Age-Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

This is how it manifests itself:

I decided to wash my car. As I start toward the garage, I spotted the mail on the hall table. I should go through the mail before I wash the car.

I lay the car keys on the table, put the junk mail in the trash can under the table, and notice that the trash can is full. So, I put the bills back on the table and take out the trash first.

Since I'm going to be near the mailbox when I take out the trash anyway, I might as well pay the bills first.

I see my checkbook on the table, but there is only one check left.

My extra checks are in my desk in the study, so I go to my desk, where I find the bottle of juice that I had been drinking.

I'm going to look for my checks, but first I need to push the juice aside so that I don't accidentally knock it over. But the juice is getting warm, and should be put in the refrigerator to keep it cold.

Heading toward the kitchen with the juice, a vase of flowers on the counter catches my eye. They need to be watered.

I set the juice down on the counter, and find my reading glasses, for which I've been searching all morning. I had better put them back on my desk, but first I'm going to water the flowers.

I set the glasses backdown on the counter, fill a container with water, and suddenly spot the TV remote. Someone left it on the kitchen table. Tonight when we sit down to watch TV, we will be looking for the remote, but nobody will remember that it's on the kitchen table. I should put it back in the den where it belongs, but first I'll water the flowers.

I splash some water on the flowers, but most of it spills on the floor. So, I put the remote back down on the table, and get some towels to wipe up the spill.

Then I head down the hall trying to remember what I was planning to do.

At the end of the day: the car isn't washed, the bills aren't paid, there is a warm bottle of juice sitting on the counter, the flowers aren't watered, there is still only one check in my checkbook, I can't find the remote, I can't find my g! lasses, and I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

I'm trying to figure out why nothing got done today, it's quite baffling because I know I was busy all day long, and I'm really tired. I know this is a serious problem, and I'll try to get some help for it, but first I'll check my e-mail.

Do me a favor, will you? Forward this message to whoever you think might enjoy it, because I don't remember who I've already sent it to.

[cabinetman]

I was about to reply, and forgot what the post was and had to go back and read it again. This sounds like my day.

[jhart]

Nice to finally find out what's wrong with me.

[TB Roye]

I always thought that was normal. Do some of that almost everyday. More now that I am a Senior, at least now I have an excuse. Now where did I leave the spindle gouge or there it is in the bag of dog food. That explaines why I was having trouble on the lathe the measuring cup makes a lousy gouge.

Tom

Tom

[crokett]

Sorry to tell you it has nothing to do with age. that happens to me all the time.

[radhak]

Sorry to tell you it has nothing to do with age. that happens to me all the time.

Same thought here : i try my best to avoid that rigmarole, but in vain. have to admire a bunch of people (wife, obviously among them ) who complete the task on hand before getting onto another.

I never catch her distracted or doing something totally out of place with the task on hand. eg : if she's on her way to put the trash out, she'd grab the outgoing mail to keep in the mailbox, and do both tasks. Me, I'd also want to write that one check i forgot to write last night, search for the checkbook, and in meantime hear a puzzled cry from her - what's this trashbag doing in the living room ?

Once, I threw in the towel and admitted she's was better at this than me, and if she'd give me some tips (there was nobody else at home, and we were not planning to meet company till days later, so my excuse was that I hoped nobody else would know of my moment of weakness; ha, slim chance, with her memory for such! ).

Anyway, she just said, "well, I'd just think that a 2nd trip to the mailbox later is not gonna kill me". Very reasonable, but not in my nature; and I guess now I know I am not alone.