By Joe Walker
“Can I be counted on if I forget numbers?”
Most of our everyday lives require some numbers use, unless our careers command a higher dependency to math. Most of us, after high school and college, only use them for money transactions, phone calls, or important calendar dates. Certain numbers are seemingly burned in our memory for life. But how often have you given away a few cents too much, or stood dumb when asked to recite your own phone digits? It’s happened too often to remember.
What about anniversaries and birthdays? Forgetting those has ended relationships and lives! What do you blame? Having a lot on your mind? The aging process?
I recently forgot an important number. It made me feel like disowning myself, right before taking a long walk off a short peer.
I was gathering addresses to mail out my wedding invitations. I few of my relatives’ addresses aren’t in my mental Rolodex. I called my mother to get the ones I needed.
“Hi, Momma,” I greeted. “Hi, love,” she answered. “Where have you been? I expected to hear from you before today.” I sat quietly, thinking for a second before I asked, “was I supposed to call you for something?” My mother laughed a little, then said, “Umm, yeah.” “For what?” I asked again. She said, “You know for what.”
At that moment I remembered a very important number. It just popped in my head. Heck, it shouldn’t have needed to pop at all! Thoughts of several expletives followed my dawning. “Momma…” I began, “I forgot your birthday…” I trailed off as I said it. My heart, soul, and voice filled with self-disappointment. We both began to chuckle, even though it wasn’t funny. I had never forgotten my mother’s birthday.
Forgetting the number didn’t end our relationship though. And I’m still alive. She forgave me, and said “Well, Joe; you know how your mind is.” I’d have to assume it’s flecked. I’m not old. Embarrassed, I told my fiancé. “Nicki,” I began, sounding pathetic, “I forgot momma’s birthday.” First she shook her head, then started to chuckle and said, “Well, Joe; you know how your mind is.” That’s the third time in row that was said to me!
New Resolution #32: “4 8 2… Uh … Man, I’m sorry. I don’t ever call myself…”
