Absent-mindedness

As a person I am very dreamy and it results in absent-mindedness. Ofcourse, I have not gone to the extent of wearing only my shirt and nothing below and go to office as Super Star Rajnikanth has done in 'Tharmathin Thalaivan' movie. In my school days I used to be so absent-minded my mother used to express her concern as 'don't get run over by lorry while crossing the road'. Many a times during my exams I used to leave behind my hall-ticket and my father used to bring and give me in the nick of time. When twin children were born, I myself became nervous about my absent-mindedness and I used to write the name of the baby on the milk bottle so that I don't feed the same baby twice while starving the other.

It is while working at CECRI, Karikudi, one of my colleague taught me how to overcome absent-mindedness. I was visiting my parents in Madurai during the second and fourth Saturdays as holidays (we did not have 5-day working at that time). My colleague was having a nice garden in his house at Karaikudi and he wanted me to get some seeds from the nursery which was in the Regal talkies compound at Madurai. I agreed and when I went to Madurai and crossed the Regal talkies I did not remember since I was absent-minded. When I returned to Karaikudi I had to apologise to my colleague. This repeated a few times and my exasperated colleague gave me the solution- to put a knot at the end of handkerchief. He also told me,'this time if you don't get, I am going to beat you'. I went to Madurai and was passing through Regal Talkies and again I forgot. But, just as i was passing the nursery, a moffisil bus let out a big exhaust which hit my eyes and I had to take out the handkerchief to wipe. Then, I noticed the knot and remembered the threat. I went to the nursery and bought the seeds he wanted. Since that day, it was a habit with me to put knots at the end of handkerchief to remember things.

If it is one thing at atime then one can use the knot technique. But, when I used to go to market to buy things I will forget few things invariably. My wife used to insist that I make a list and keep checking the list which worked well with me. But, still many a times after coming home I used to realise 'Oh, I did visit the shop, but still forgot to buy'.

In the '70s there was a Hollywood comedy movie by the famous comedian Jerry Lewis titled, 'Absent-minded professor'. My colleagues had nick-named me with that title. Are you also absent-minded? Please share your experiences here.

Regards,

TDU

 

Dear anandchitra,

Thanks for your appreciation. I posted this after reading your fine post 'I too made a list'. My absent-mindedness is associated with thought waves keep coming and making me forget the present. Even while eating, I eat mechanically with my mind lapsing into some thoughts. Nowadays, I am saved of this since I go in a group to eat lunch and I am kept engaged by my American colleagues who keep referring to me anything about India.

Regards,

TDU

 

Dear Veda,

It is heartening to know that I am not alone in forgetting. I have also lost several umbrellas and this has reminded me of the time when after coming out of our library in BARC I absent-mindedly picked up an umbrella and walked off. The owner of the umbrella came running after me and I had embarassing moments.

Regards,

TDU

 

Dear Kamalji,

Thanks for your appreciation of my post. I am glad to know that I am not alone in forgetting things. I think this is a trait in great thinkers like us.

Regards,

TDU

 

Dear sathya,

You have made me feel guilty of having robbed your chance to post on the same topic in your inimicable poetic style. I would welcome you to post it ( you can slightly change the title) even now and give us an enjoyable post.

Regards,

TDU