Whiplash! – “F” it’s not one thing, it’s another.

Whiplash: An injury to the neck caused by an abrupt jerking motion of the head, either backward or forward; And in the case of writing or speaking, can be caused by a rapid change of topic without prior notice.

Whiplash! – “F” it’s not one thing, it’s another.

As we age we tend to forget things once in a while. Well, maybe not just once in a while; maybe a little more often…Now, what was about to talk about? Oh right, “forgetting”. It’s a common phenomenon; you’re walking into a room to get something and you get there and ask yourself, “Why was I coming into this room?” Or, you are about to tell someone something and they talk first, either asking you a question or they just tell you something, like your shoelaces are untied, and there goes whatever you wanted to tell them, ”I was just going to tell you something, but now I can’t remember what it is.” It’s that easy. I would be surprised if there was anyone reading this blog right now, that has not experienced it. You just have to remember when it happened.

What amazes me is that there are an incredible number of trivial things that can remember at any given time. I can hear 3 notes of a tune and remember the words, who sang it and when and where I heard it. I actually can remember most of the students’ names in classes that I’ve taught when I was a full-time teacher. Just show me a class picture and I’ll name 90% of the students’ names. Yet ask me what I wrote about this week for letters A-E and I will have to think really hard to come close to getting them right. I actually have to picture myself writing the pieces or better yet remember the cartoons that I picked that went along with them to get any answers correct.

Of course, there are lots of other things I have no problem remembering, some of which I would like to forget, but unfortunately, though aged forgetfulness is selective, I don’t get to do the selecting.

Whiplash!

In my next life, I think I would have a better chance of learning French if I were born in France. I’ve been trying to learn French since I found my French brother in 2013. Duolingo says that I’m now over 60% fluent in French. If that is so, why can’t I understand anything that is said in French? I certainly read and understand French better than I can listen and understand it, but I don’t feel close to 60%, more like 35% and make sure you speak very slowly and use basic vocabulary, with a lot of hand gestures to help me get what you’re saying. I’m also trying to learn German, but that was only started about 6 months ago, which just adds to the confusion. What I need is conversation skills combined with increased vocabulary knowledge and not have to deal with gender-based nouns. Both German and French both have gender-based nouns, and German even adds a third category, “neutral”, into the mix.

But I’ll keep trying. Someday I’ll get it. By then they’ll probably change the language to be more modern and I’ll have to start all over again.

Whiplash!

And for my third effen idea to discuss…I forget what it was. (I bet you knew that was coming!)

Whiplash!

So do you suffer from the age of forgetfulness? Or is it not an age issue at all and we all suffer from it, from the day we’re born? As an adult, have you tried to learn a foreign language? How’d that go for you? Any tips for me?

Till next time…”G” whiz, will I ever stick to one topic!