somewhere maybe out west on our travels this past summer under rocks along the canyon ridge hike in Yellowstone slipping down the slope of Crater Lake behind one of the many tall and stunning redwoods of California? somewhere no, probably here at home when we returned to the demolition of remodeling all the ensuing shocks and decisions squished between spackle drywall wiring? I don’t know somewhere perhaps in the tragic defeating headlines of the larger world so much ugly right at my fingertips the relentless cascade? actually maybe it is woven within these pandemic years themselves intertwined with all the isolation tension unknown? who knows? it could simply be turning sixty-three Joy Harjo imagines every seven years - a new transition maybe this is the focus of my next seven year chapter? somewhere somewhere somewhere I’ve lost words unexpectedly over and over and over again yes, language stumbles away from me it happens right in the midst of an ordinary conversation an ordinary sentence an ordinary word ah…ah…ah (yep, that’s what I always say) and so ensues all manner of pantomime charades good luck charms incantations mental hijinks a friend suggests getting up and immediately walking back across the threshold of whatever room I’ve entered believing this action will bring the word back I try and try and try to find the elusive rascal here at the outset of this hide and seek game I am chuckling I see words playfully hiding but this could get old very soon
The story behind this poem –
Just the other day, I was telling a friend about our upgrades to the air conditioning and heating system here at the house, when for the life of me, I could not recall the word
“ducts.”
The word had simply vaporized from my brain. The next thing I knew, I was stuttering and flailing, trying to conjure the word, and my friend – as if on cue – starting playing a guessing game with me, trying to help me along with my storytelling.
If this were a one-time thing, this incident would hardly merit a ‘slice of life’ post (though maybe it would, due to its exceptionalism? Hahaha) I seem to have entered a phase of my life where I am losing words more regularly, ordinary words that simply escape my tongue for reasons I cannot understand – just enough to be irritating, not enough to truly scare me or require medical expertise. (I think!)
So, tell me, does this happen to you, too?
It's Tuesday and I'm participating in the Slice of Life. Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for creating this supportive community of teacher writers.
I-am-living-this-poem and it is scaring the sh__t out of me. What a beautiful way you have described this phenomenon on vaporized words. On a positive note: check out “How to Boost Your Brain Memory”–a 4-wk. TED Class with Lisa Genova. 😊 She says we’re made to forget.
Oh my, thank you!! I will check out this TED talk – sounds perfect. Thanks for commenting – I’m glad I am not alone!
I’m right with you on this phenomenon. The best (funniest) advice I had for dealing with it is to say to whomever you’re speaking with, “Just give me a sec. I’m trying to remember the English word for it.” That just cracked me up.
That is a wonderful ‘out’ for forgetting the word. I wonder where the words go? It definitely seems to be a very common issue.
Happens to me, Maureen. I wish I could return to that elusive *somewhere*, wherever that may be. Lordy, these memory challenges feel foreboding. We sure were on the same wavelength today!
I loved the coincidence of our topics, today! Yes, these memory challenges seem to be very familiar to many of us. We have lots on our minds – some things are going to slip. Thanks for commenting, Glenda!
Yes, Maureen, certainly is happening to me more and more lately. I forget my words too! I’m glad to know I’m not alone.
It is a very surprising and agitating sensation, I find. Thanks for commenting.
As a matter of fact, Maureen, this does happen to me. Just today, the doctor asked me to remember 3 words and she would come back to see if I could do it. Remembering last year when my mind drew a blank, I worried if I would forget a word or two but I focused and remembered all 3. I am so late to Slice of Life but when falling asleep before 12 and waking up to finish my slice must have given me the extra energy to write and send my slice off.
Thank you, Carol! Great to hear from you. Those three words can be very difficult to remember, even with the heads up from the doctor. I guess we all have a lot on our minds.
The answer is YES, I feel this on such a deep level. What I love about your post is how well you bring us in on it. By ending each stanza with a question, we’re left in the middle of things, just…wondering. Which is EXACTLY how I feel when I lose myself mid-thought or mid-task.
I also noticed your stanza about crossing the threshold of the room you once occupied, especially after you mention all the things you try to get yourself to communicate the one word or idea. Your words remind me of the “memory palace” mnemonic, where you picture different things to remember as a house with rooms and furniture, each one assigned to a different memory.
Loved this post.
Lainie, I really appreciate your comment! I was hoping to lure the reader in with those questions, and I am happy that this technique worked for you. I have to look into the “memory palace” mnemonic – love this suggestion.