Turning Down the Sun

  While filling out a survey, I was forced to check the box for my age.  I knew that I fell in to the 45 - 50 age group, but suddenly I could not remember if I was 46 or 48. I realized this was ridiculous as everyone knows their age, but for the life of me, I could not remember mine. I began doing the math and employed the use of counting on fingers and using a little chisanbop (you're my age if you know what that is) and quickly concluded that I was indeed 48.  I aged two years in two minutes.  It's simply not right.

  I don't know if it is the fact that I'm in the 45 - 50 box or if I'm just distracted, but I find myself doing odd things without realizing it.  Last week, while driving into a blinding sun, my children watched with great concern as I repeatedly tried to turn down the sun with the volume knob on my car radio.   Needless to say, I was unsuccessful, but I did discover that punching all the buttons on the radio was a useful coping mechanism and calmed me until the sun was out of my eyes.

  I'm keenly aware that I may not actually be keenly aware and I believe there may be some kind of twisted irony in that.  My children are taking notes and remind me on a regular basis when I do strange things that simply don't make sense.  I remind them that one day I plan to be old and crazy and any inheritance will go to the one child that best takes care of me.  It's an idle threat, but seems to work for now.  Until that time arrives, I'll continue to do strange things for no explainable reason.