I think we should end a depressing day with a bit of humor. MB reader Philip Z. writes:
“That’s not forgetfulness. That’s Alzheimer’s.” Just wait until you get a little older. When you turn 45 you will understand. Time is no longer a line with a clear beginning and end; it is a circle. You take linear memory for granted because you are yet young. When you turn 50 there will be times when you are no longer confused about when an event occurred…because you will have lost all memory that the event occurred at all. When Judy Miller couldn’t remember what her notes meant and everyone was incredulous of that, I understood it quite well. I can no longer jot down shorthand notes if I care to remember what I am writing about two days later. “GWB called re sup. ct.”…who is “GWB” and why would he call me about a “suppository count”? “Call back by 5 p.m. or HM gets appt.”…does this have anything to do with the “GWB” mentioned in the note above the doodle of the clown’s face?
In the end, I hope you’re right. Thanks for the e-mail, and thanks to everyone who takes the time to write. I know I’m not the best about staying in touch, but sometimes I just forget.