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 Each day feels new, and my memory of the one before is faint. I’m learning to adapt. |
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In September 2019, a seizure revealed a lime-sized meningioma pressed against my hippocampus—the part of the brain that governs memory and language. The doctors said it was benign, but benign didn’t mean harmless. Surgery removed the tumor, and three days later I opened my eyes to a new reality. I could walk, I could talk, but when I looked at my wife, her name was gone. I called her Precious—the only word I could find. A failure of memory, yet perhaps the truest name of all. Recovery has been less cure than re-calibration. Memory gaps are frequent. Conversations vanish. I had to relearn how to write, letter by halting letter. My days are scaffold by alarms, notes, and calendars. When people ask how I am, I don’t list symptoms or struggles. I simply say, “Seven Degrees Left of Center.” It’s not an answer—it’s who I’ve become. Note ▼ |
| When you share your writing, it will influence those who read it to some degree. I mean, that is what writing is about, isn't it? The art of communicating influence? Influence is a topic I am learning. What am I trying to influence in Seven Degrees Left of Center? The short sentence, "Encouragement to be patient in healing and brave in sharing the experience." However, that is starting to take on a different goal. After five years, my brain has recovered and adapted as much as it is going to. My entries in this blog are mostly self-serving. I've been encouraging myself to keep writing. Now, I would like to encourage others to write and share their experiences. I know this blog doesn't get many views. But, if you are reading this, I encourage you to write with the knowledge that what you write and share will influence someone along the way. It is scary to share thoughts and experiences. It is rewarding to know someone might be encouraged because of it. |
| I admire the people who can achieve the five, 7 badges in a week. This will be just one day for me. So I'll keep this short. Write on ... Write on ... |
| I have neglected my fountain pen collection for the past several months. I have also neglected my snail mail friends. Well, on Monday, I started cleaning the pens and writing letters to those neglected friends. So far, two letters have been completed. Seems I should have done more than that by now. My therapist encouraged me to get going again. Like any muscle, the writing you stop using, you start losing. So, keep on writing. |
| I start each day by reviewing notes from the previous day and the days before. My memory gap is about five days. Something that happens today will not be processed immediately. After five days, the memory moves from the broken short-term memory storage to the long-term memory library. The challenge is learning and adapting to the disconnect. Writing regularly helps. Reviewing and rewriting the things I want to remember. Advanced planning is also a valuable tool. Planning a task a week in advance will help process through the gap. This increases the odds I will remember what I need to when I need to. |
| Today, I was not a good steward of my time. However, I did finish reading a book. Other than that, it was a set on my ass day. The rain didn't help. Yet, I had the opportunity to write and chose not to. Since I have a hard time remembering yesterday, I need to stay on a routine. The routines are what get me through each day. I have to admit it gets exhausting sometimes. I need to stop complaining. Alas, I will not remember today tomorrow anyway. Still, it is crucial to be a good steward of time. Once it is gone, you will never get it back. Try to spend it wisely. |
The generations do change. What was once "cool" is now "fire." At least according to my grandson. When did I find this out? This 4th of July. My grandson kept saying, "That's fire." When in reality something "cool" happened. A complete role reversal has taken place with these words. And here, I thought he was referring to the fact that fireworks, well, are literally fire? Anyway, we had a fabulous 4th of July that was both "cool" and "fire" depending on your birth date. |
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