Once upon a time when I forgot something especially in the middle of a conversation I would state I had a brain fart. As we age I have heard elderly people state they had a seniors moment. Now post stroke I state I had a stroke moment...or I'm having a stroke moment.
It's alarming how many times this happens to me now. I realize that I need to focus more now than ever and try to get to the point without branching off into other directions...this is challenging for me...those who know me understand this well.
A resent example that stands out for me happened at the first hockey practice I coached this year. Since I don't skate yet the players come to me at the bench and I draft up the drill on a dry erase board. Prior to doing this I made a mental note that I needed to tell the players to stay onside while doing the drill. The drill had a give and go coming out of our zone and then back over the blue line into the now offensive zone. I drafted it out and they all got it although I knew I had one last point to convey prior to sending them out to do it...a stroke moment. Out they went, I watched the drill and them consistently go over the blue line before the puck (going offside) then I remembered "ah ya, don't go offside" too late at that point, not having a strong voice yet and not being on the ice to utter the verbal correction, the drill went on. I don't like to practice bad habits.
Another example of this happens a lot with names, I see someone and have known them for years, they say Hi and I say Hi and battle my brain for their name...usually 12 to 14 hours later I remember, not that it helps then.
After reading the Walter Gretzky book and noting he had daily to do lists...quite comprehensive in the beginning and I assume it got shorter, like mine. I still make many to do lists, not just a grocery list but lists of things I need to do. I joked with my mother that it was my memory list...I still do it and with technology I can do it on my cell phone to take with me. My lists get shorter and sometimes I don't have to make them but a pad of paper still sits on my living room table and I do use it to remind myself of things...things to do, things to buy, things to say, things of importance that I will likely forget later. My father makes the big mistake making his list or should I say lists, too many of them in too many different places and then forgets where the lists are. Time goes by and I sense my memory is getting better...likely by using and challenging it.
