I thought I was losing my mind (which isn’t the first time), because I was seen somewhere I hadn’t been.
Or, I didn’t think I had been there, but maybe I had since a friend was so adamant about my presence. In fact, she had a picture of me socializing with other attendees and recalled exactly what we talked about.
No, I hadn’t been there, had I?
There’s a picture?
But, I was somewhere else that night. I think.
We laughed about either my memory loss, not funny at all to me, or her imagination, and I urged her to send a copy of the picture of me (apparently in an altered state) smoozing with folks who accepted my presence as real.
I hung up from this bizarre exchange questioning my sanity, my memory, and the mental health of my friend. Yes, I am 75. Yes, I have forgotten names of people. Yes, I have roamed from room to room wondering what I was intending to find. But, no, I had never misplaced myself into a different location.
Within an hour, the friend called back, breathlessly apologizing for her mistake–thank goodness!
No, it wasn’t me she saw (I tried to tell her that).
No, she hadn’t had a conversation with me.
Yes, she was embarrassed to admit she doesn’t know what I look like.
And no, the woman she saw doesn’t look that much like me, as best she can now remember.
Well, maybe she had that much wine.
A major sigh of relief escaped my mouth. Thank goodness it wasn’t me who got things mixed up…this time.
I can laugh about this confusion since it could happen to anyone. And under my breath I’m begging,
“Please, please, don’t let it happen to me”.
Aging does have its perils.
that little voice 
Who are you again?
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Oh right!
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😜
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That¹s funny!
I had a weird exchange yesterday with a neighbor who stopped me to say that my short-term rental guests had been very noisy the night before. Lots of raucous people out on the deck, lights on all over the house, inside and out. Of course, I was aghast. I emailed the guest to ask if this could be true. I was surprised because it was a middle-aged couple from Alabama who had just arrived and probably knew no body around here to party with. They didn¹t look like the noisy sort.
Meanwhile I canvassed other neighbors to see if they¹d heard the noise. Nope. We all sleep with our windows open here, so loud noises and bright lights at night are a problem. But, they asked me, who’d told me there¹d been noise. When I told them, they shook their heads and told me in so many words that the woman is nuts. They did, however, agree about the lights, so I got back to my guest, apologizing but suggesting they pull their shades at night and turn off the exterior lights.
They responded that of course there had been no noise. They¹d come home about 10, watched TV, and gone to bed. They didn¹t comment on the lights, and I¹ve probably now irritated a nice couple. BUTI¹ve leaned that Joy across the street is nuts and not to listen to her next time. And she¹s not even old!
From: that little voice Reply-To: that little voice Date: Sunday, July 9, 2017 at 9:53 AM To: Paula James Subject: [New post] Who Was That Unmasked Woman?
WordPress.com that little voice posted: “I thought I was losing my mind (which isn’t the first time), because I was seen somewhere I hadn’t been. Or, I didn’t think I had been there, but maybe I had since a friend was so adamant about my presence. In fact, she had a picture of me socializing “
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With my recent experiences with Janetta, I thought I might become her roommate with my own mental shortcomings. Scary thought. Hopefully the couple will not take it personally and will understand crazy neighbors!
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It’s hard to keep your balance at such moments, isn’t it? It’s all too easy to assume we that due to our advancing age we must be losing it, and forget that yes, other people also make mistakes … and some people are out of control. Glad your equanimity is restored.
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