Monte R Anderson - Author
  • Monte's Blog
  • About Monte
    • Monte's Resume
    • Monte's Bio
  • Fiction
    • Novels and Books >
      • Night Predator
      • The Clone Murders
      • Angels and Gargoyles
      • Archimedes of Syracuse: Leonardos da Vinci's Mentor
      • The Register Cliff Rapist
    • Short Stories >
      • The Tyranny of GPS
      • Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962
      • Good Neighbors
      • What God Hath Joined
    • Plays/Screenplays >
      • St. Michael & Job
      • How to Write a Screenplay for a TV Detective Show
      • Detective Show Spoof
      • Angels and Gargoyles Screenplay
      • Archimedes of Syracuse Screenplay
  • Non-Fiction
    • Leadership for New Managers: Book Two
    • Facility Management Series: Types of Maitenance Programs
  • Stories from Elmira

Archimedes of Syracuse: Leonardo da Vinci's Mentor

11/28/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I haven’t posting anything from my novels, so today thought I would post something from my first historical novel, Archimedes of Syracuse. This chapter is about his first night in Alexandria at a dinner to celebration achievements of the first Ptolemy who established the Ptolemy dynasty. Archimedes is the guest of honor. He is seated between the beautiful sisters Helena and Berenice. Enjoy. 
 
     “Are you familiar with our cuisine?” Berenice asks.
     “No, not really.  I recognize some of the more common dishes but not much else.”
     “Very well then, tonight we will be your teachers, and you can be our pupil.”
     “As you wish, your Highnesses.”
     “Oh, Archimedes, I told you, don’t be so formal,” Helena says. “Call us Helena and Berenice.”
     The first course is served.  It is an elaborate dinner even by Greek standards.  Archimedes has never seen so much food, many dishes that he has never seen or eaten. The King is
served first, then the rest of the royal family, and then the other guests in the Great Hall. The King feeds scraps of food from the table to his dog, Peritas. From time to time, Archimedes catches a glimpse of Berenice and Euergeter holding hands under the table.
     Pointing at all the food, Helena asks, “Archimedes, I am sure you recognize eggs, salad, and shellfish, but are you familiar with these?” She points at a silver tray of food.
     “No, I don’t think so.”
     “These are snails.” She picks up a snail, and tries to place it in his closed mouth. “Come now, don’t make a face. You must first try everything then you can eat whatever suits
you. Now try this.”
     Archimedes opens his mouth, and lets her drop the snail inside.  He was prepared for some unpleasant taste but much to his surprise it is tasty. “Hmmmm.  Interesting!”
     “That was not as bad as you thought it was going to be, now was it?  Now what would you like?” Helena asks.
     “I think I will stick to eggs and salad to begin with.”
     “Archimedes, where is your sense of adventure?” Berenice asks. “You come here to learn and to explore new ideas at the Museum, and here you sit with a closed mind. Tell you what, we will feed you things that we know you will like. You just relax.” 
     The two sisters began picking out items, and feeding Archimedes.  Archimedes can barely conceal his delight. Never has anyone fussed over him in this manner. The women keep up a steady stream of chatter while Archimedes reclines, and eats whatever they put into his mouth. 
     Helena is exquisite, obviously much younger than Berenice. She is more tanned than most of the other ladies. She is thin but as muscular as an athlete. Her blond ponytail sways from side to side as she turns her head from the table and back again. Archimedes observes that her eyebrows are painted on, something he has never seen before. Her feet have tan lines from wearing sandals in the sun. Every time her arm comes near his nose he takes in the scent of roses. He decides not to mention any of this to Barnacle. Barnacle would have too many questions and vulgar gestures to be sure.
     The second course contains the meat dishes: beef, lamb, pork, chicken, and fish. The fish includes porpoise, mackerel, mullet, oysters, and sole. A variety of wild game such as wild boar, venison, hare, goat, pheasant, duck, goose, partridge, thrush, and turtledove is presented in a pleasing display. Many dishes are new to Archimedes. 
     “Now what is that?” asks Archimedes, pointing.
     “That is crane, and that is flamingo, and that is ostrich-all fowl” Berenice answers.
     “Interesting! What type of fowl is ostrich?”
     “Ostrich is a large, long necked bird found in the plain of Africa,” Berenice replies.  “However, we raise them here in Alexandria. Quite tasty, like beef.”
     “Interesting! And that?” Archimedes points at a tray of strange meat.
     “That is zebra, like a horse, but white with black stripes,” Berenice answers.
     “I think zebras are black with white stripes,” Helena jokes.
     ”Interesting!” Archimedes says, missing the joke. “And that?”
     “The natives call it a ‘river horse’ so we took the name literally, and call it Hippopotamus too, says Berenice. “Helena is more familiar with the native cuisine than I.”
     “So, it is some type of horse?”
     “Helena chimes in, “More like an elephant with short legs living in the water.  It is hard to describe. You will have to see one for yourself. And this is crocodile, also tasty if cooked right and seasoned with spices; otherwise it is bland.”
     From time to time, the dog, Peritas goes to Euergeter for a bite of meat. Whenever Archimedes doesn’t like the taste of food in his mouth, he waits for Helena and Berenice to turn their heads, and he slips it to the eager Peritas.
     Archimedes recognizes many of the vegetables: olives, beans, lentils, chick peas, lettuces, cabbages and leeks. Helena and Berenice take turns selecting a morsel and placing it in his mouth. Archimedes enjoys every minute. The wine is in abundance and is excellent.  Archimedes has never seen such an assortment of breads. Bread is not eaten in Syracuse.  Berenice dips a piece of bread in olive oil mixed with spices, and drops it into his mouth. The last course is served: trays of fruits, various cakes, and puddings.
     “Here try this. It is called an apricot. I doubt you have ever seen this in Syracuse. Now what else? Oh, I know, almonds.  Have you tasted almond nuts before?” Helena asks.
     “No, never. Mmmmm. Interesting!” as Helena places an almond in his mouth. 
     “I will have one of my handmaidens bring up a tray of fruit and nuts to your room. You might be hungry later,”
     “I don’t think I will be hungry for a week.”
     Laughing, Helena says, “Good! You have a sense of humor. That is a quality so lacking in most of you scholars.”
     Helena takes Archimedes’ goblet, and holds it up for a wine steward to refill but stops him when the glass is half full. She then reaches for a small bowl containing honey. Using a special stick from the honey bowl, she drops a generous portion of honey into his glass and stirs. 
     “Surely you recognize this,” Helena says as she holds the goblet out to Archimedes.
     “Of course, an aperitif, is it not?”
     “Yes, of course. I guess you must have honey in Syracuse. But try this with our excellent wine.” 
     She makes two more glasses for herself and Berenice but with much less honey.  Archimedes thinks this would be what heaven is like if he believed in heaven: plenty of rich food, excellent wines, and the company of beautiful women. The wine is served in glass goblets not like the metal ones to which he is accustomed. He has seen a lot of glass bottles and glass vases tonight, more than in Syracuse. His thoughts are interrupted by Helena’s voice.
     “I think it is time for the ladies to retire. I see Queen Arsinoe preparing to leave. We must tend to her, and see that she gets to bed. What did you think of our feast tonight?”
     “It was …”
     “I know, interesting! Until tomorrow then.”

END
​

If you enjoyed this short sample, Archimedes of Syracuse: Leonardo da Vinci’s Mentor is available on Amazon in hard copy or as an e-book at http:/smashwords.com/b/159447.
 
For e-books by me, visit http://smashwords.com/profile/view/monteranderson.
Follow me on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/monteranderson
Follow my blog at http://monteranderson-author.com or http://monteranderson.wordpress.com



0 Comments

Crazy Things I'm Thankful for

11/20/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
It’s that time of year when we take stock of the things we’re thankful for. I have been working on this list for weeks. I’ve eliminated the obvious things that people list every year; family, friends, health, blah, blah, blah. Here’s my list of things I’m thankful for:
1.      Farts are colorless. Can you imagine what the world would be like if farts were blue or green? That would take all the guess work out of who farted and let the dog off the hook.
2.      Lobsters don’t scream when you cook them (same goes for stepping on bugs). This goes without saying.
3.     Cow can’t fly. Pigeons are bad enough. Thank goodness cows can’t fly.
4.      Dinosaurs are extinct. Driving to work every day is enough of a hassle. Thank goodness, we don’t have to dodge dinosaurs too.
5.      Fire. I’m not sure who invented or discovered it, but Thanksgiving wouldn’t be the same without fire. We’d have to eat cold turkey. What would a BBQ be without fire? Just a stack of wood or coal.
6.      My secret bank account. I’m glad my wife doesn’t know about my secret bank account. Oh, wait! WTF? Never mind.
7.      Breathing is automatic. I’m certainly glad I don’t have to think about breathing. I’m so forgetful lately, I’d forget to breathe.
8.      Light bulbs. Because without light bulbs, we’d be in …wait for it… the dark ages.
9.      Gravity. Where would we be without gravity? Flung to the far corners of the solar system, I imagine.
10.  Control of my anal sphincter. Can you imagine what life would be like if humans had not control of their anal sphincters? It would be shitty for sure. You could say, “That depends.”
11.  Beer. Ben Franklin said, “In wine there is wisdom, in beer there is freedom, in water there is bacteria.” Which is why I don’t drink water.
12.  Coffee. The elixir of the gods. I plan to quit drinking coffee as soon as I find a better way to get it down.
13.  The thermos. It keeps hot things hot and cold things cold. How does it know?
14.  Golf Carts. A golf cart came in handy when my good buddy Ralph had a heart attack in the middle of our golf game. If we didn’t have a golf cart, we would’ve had to drag his body from hole to hole.
15.  My brain. I’m thankful my mind is still tack as a sharp.
16.  That marijuana is harmless. Thank goodness it haade ne efftive omn me abilly to rite.
Perhaps you have some non-traditional things to be thankful for. Let’s hear them.
​For e-books by me, visit http://smashwords.com/profile/view/monteranderson.
Follow me on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/monteranderson
Follow my blog at http://monteranderson-author.com or http://monteranderson.wordpress.com


0 Comments

More LinkedIn Mistakes that Kill Your Job Hunt

11/17/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I read with interest and article on my newsfeed written by Rachel Sokol in Reader’s Digest, “12 LinkedIn Mistakes that can Cost you the Job.” She listed skimping on work history, hiding your skills, forgetting to brand yourself, neglecting keywords in your summary, ignoring your profile, forgetting to add location, posting political or controversial things, forgetting where and when you met someone, not asking for recommendations, not uploading your whole resume, and not downloading your connections. Of course, whenever people write these lists, they omit major things. As a community service, with tongue in cheek, I want to add to the list:
1.      Don’t mention your fraternity or sorority. If your fraternity or sorority hasn’t been in the news recently for some stupid stunt, it will be. Best not to mention it until after you’re hired.
2.      Remember that funny video of you drunk and falling into a wedding cake? Yeah, don’t post that video.
3.      Check the background of any pictures you post. Make sure you don’t have things like Confederate flags, your pot bong, your collection of Playboy magazines, your exes, or your KKK hood.
4.      It may be too soon to list Trump University on your profile. Hold off on that.
5.      Remember, drinking beer while standing on your head is not a skill you should list. That also goes for making pipe bombs, stalking, and coloring, sexting, cooking meth, field stripping an AK47, shooting an RPG, breaking and entering, and picking locks. 
6.      Don’t list references who are still in prison.
7.      Do not list your time in prison as an extended vacation.
8.      Don’t use family as references unless you still have copies of photographs you can use for blackmail.
9.      Don’t list your parole officer as a reference. Same for your Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor.
10.  Don’t misspell the name of the university you claim to have attended.
11.  Don’t try to be clever in your email address, i.e. buttkicker@whatever.com.
Keep these tips in mind as you build you LinkedIn profile.
For e-books by me, visit http://smashwords.com/profile/view/monteranderson.
Follow me on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/monteranderson
Follow my blog at http://monteranderson-author.com or http://monteranderson.wordpress.com


0 Comments

What God Hath Joined -- A Short Story

11/14/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
The small group stands in front of the altar: a bride and groom, a minister, and his wife. The candle light plays on their faces, and makes their shadows dance on the empty pews.
The minister continues, "If anyone can show just cause why these two may not marry, speak now; or forever hold your peace."
All four turn when they hear a cough by the door.
“Well, Padre, I have a few things to say.” The voice came from a huge man in an army uniform wearing shoulder stripes. Two armed guards stand on either side. “First, this man is AWOL. We ship tomorrow, and I aim to make sure he is on board. Second, he is going to war. He could be dead in a matter of months. Marriage now is not a good idea.”
The minister asks, “And how can he be AWOL if he has been gone only for a few hours?”
“Okay, you got me,” says the sergeant. “Technically, he isn’t AWOL- yet. But he is if he misses that ship.”
“Let them finish,” says the minister’s wife.
“Not a good idea. She could be a widow soon,” answers the sergeant.
“What is your name?”
“The name’s McAvoy, First Sergeant Thomas McAvoy, C Company, Fifteenth Infantry.”
“Well, Tom, where are you from?”
“Not that it matters, but I am from Torrington, Wyoming.”
The minister’s wife turns to leave, “I will put on a pot for tea.”
The soldier asks, “How did you find us?”
“That was easy,” replies the sergeant. “I found a letter from your girlfriend. We went to the return address. Her mother told us where to find you.”
“Ten minutes, please,” begs the minister.
“No!” the sergeant answers, a somewhat irritated.
“You must know that it is against military regulations to arrest anyone in a church. It is sanctuary–Holy Ground.”
The sergeant stops in his tracks. He looks at the minister’s face to gauge whether he is lying. Finally, he concludes, “You are bluffing, Padre. And you a man of the cloth and all, and in God’s House too. You should be ashamed.”
The trembling bride finds her own voice, “We have to get married!”
The sergeant and minister both ask, “What?” at the same time.
A mite slow, but finally the soldier asks, “What?”
“I’m pregnant! We have to get married.”
The men look at the soldier who looks bewildered. It is obvious that he did not know that his bride was pregnant.
“Look,” the sergeant says. “I know this soldier. He is a good boy. I met your mother, and she says you are a good girl. You must be telling a lie.”
The girl stamps her foot. “You don’t know what kind of girl I am, and neither does my mother. I love him! He is going to war! I know I may not see him again! You do not have to tell me that. We know what we want. We are two adults who are in love, and we want to get married.”
The sergeant looks at his guards who shrug their shoulders.
“Okay, but hurry up.”
On cue, the minister continues, “I now pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
With the ceremony concluded, both guards start down the aisle.
“Wait!” shouts the bride. “The honeymoon!”
“You are pushing your luck, little lady. Besides, it is a little late for that,” the sergeant growls as he motions the guards forward.
“Sergeant,” says the minister’s wife from the side doorway. Everyone stops and looks her direction. “You have phone call.”
“What? Who can it be?”
“They did not say, but they asked for you.”
The sergeant follows her to the rectory hall telephone followed by everyone else.
“Hello?” says the sergeant into the receiver. “Oh, my God! I don’t believe this. Yes, of course. Yes, okay, I will do it. It is nice to hear your voice too. Love you too. Goodbye.”
The sergeant turns to face the puzzled group. Looking at the young couple, “You have two hours, Private. If you are not back in two hours, I will track you down myself.” Taking out his wallet, “Here is twenty bucks. Take a cab.” He looks at the snickering guards and says, “The first one to say a word gets a fat lip.”
The stunned soldier says, “I can pay you payday.”
Waving his hand. “Consider it a wedding gift.”
The bride rushes up and kisses the sergeant, “Thank you.”
Before anyone can say another word, Good Wife says, “You can use our bed. Come, help me put on clean sheets for you.”
As the couple climbs the stairs, the soldier asks, “Are you really pregnant?”
“Not yet,” she answers with a giggle.
The minister escorts the sergeant and the guards out the rectory door. A few minutes later, his wife joins him in the living room. “How did you do that?”
“I appealed to a higher authority,” she says coyly.
“Don’t tease me, Good Wife. I am dying to know.”
“I called his mother in Wyoming.”
“Of course! What a great idea! How many McAvoys can there be in Torrington Wyoming?”
His wife chuckles, “Quite a few, apparently. When the operator asked me which one, I said the mother of Tom. When I explained to Mrs. McAvoy what her son was up to, she agreed to straighten him out.”
“You are amazing. I am in awe.”
“What will we do for two hours? We could have a cup of tea or we could we cuddle on the couch like newlyweds.”
“Tea sounds good right now.”
“I’ll make a pot.”

THE END
​

For e-books by me, visit http://smashwords.com/profile/view/monteranderson.
Follow me on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/monteranderson
Follow my blog at http://monteranderson-author.com or http://monteranderson.wordpress.com

0 Comments

We Small Band of Brothers and Sisters – a Tribute to Veterans

11/10/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
This article is my tribute to our veterans. When I write “brother” I am including sisters too.

Were you there with me, brother, with muddy boots when we stormed Normandy and started to push back the German Army? Or were you with the 82d Airborne and Patton at the Battle of the Bulge? We liberated Paris. We stood and shook as we saw the survivors of the concentration camps. We saw the ovens and we can still smell the burning flesh. We saw the destruction of the German cities, many centuries old – the victims of war. We forgave but we couldn’t forget. After the war, we helped to rebuild Europe.

Were you there with me, brother, when the Japanese surprised us and bombed Pearl Harbor without a declaration of war? Maybe you were there when Bataan fell and the Japanese bottled us up in the tunnels of Corregidor. We who survived made the Bataan Death March. We fought back at the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway and Guadalcanal. You walked with me and Mac in muddy boots as we leap-frogged across the South Pacific to push the Japanese back and finally returned to the Philippines

We are so few still living. We were the greatest American generation. Those who survived the war came home and built and rebuilt the United States industries to make the USA the greatest country in the world – a world super power. We made the mold, set the standard and inspired future generations. Soon we will be gone, but never forgotten.

Were you there with me, brother, at Pusan when we stopped the North Koreans and held the perimeter? We held the line to buy time for Mac to organize a counterattack. Or maybe you came ashore at Inchon in an amphibious landing that turned the tide of the war and turned back the communists? Then we watched the massive Chinese intervention into the Korean War and fought a strategic withdraw. We fought at Bloody Ridge, Heartbreak Ridge and Old Baldy. We were the "The Chosen Few” or, as we called ourselves, “The Frozen Chosen.” We have been there ever since to protect the South Koreans.

Were you there with me, brother, when we went to fight in a country we didn’t know, to fight a war we didn’t start and didn’t want? We waded through rice paddies and walked in elephant grass. We were in the Delta when the monsoon struck and soaked us until we looked like drowned rats. We fought at Khe San, in Hue during the Tet Offensive, and on Hamburger Hill. We felt the earth tremble during Arclight strikes by B-52 Stratofortresses, when the artillery answered a call for fire support, and when Hueys airlifted us into battle or for a medevac. We marveled when Spooky – Puff the Magic Dragon – delivered ordinance on Charlie, when artillery flares lit up the night, and when ice cream, still cold, made it to the field. Even now, on a clear day when the wind is right, we can still smell the burning crappers, the smoke from smoke grenades, and the napalm. Our ears still ring from the sounds of claymores going off, from incoming rockets and the cries of our wounded. We fought to hold the line against communism until finally we withdrew and Saigon fell. But we fought mainly to protect our brothers on our flanks. When we came home, no one said “Thanks for your service,” or “Job well done,” or even, “Welcome home.”

Were you there with me, brother, when we went into the Dominican Republic to stop a communist takeover? Or maybe you were there when we overthrew the socialists in Grenada? We captured the Panamanian dictator and drug-smuggler, Manuel Noriega. We were in Lebanon when terrorists bombed the Marine barracks in Beirut. We lost many brothers that day. The cost of freedom is high and is paid in blood in places like Somalia, Bosnia, and Kosovo. Freedom isn’t free.

Were you there with me, brother, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait and crossed the line we had drawn in the sand? We countered attacked with Desert Storm. We liberated Kuwait in 100 hours. We stood in shock as we watched oil wells burn. Finally, we invaded Iraq and occupied Baghdad. We searched and captured Hussein. He was tried and hanged. The country held free elections to vote in a new government. We felt the heat in July and August and froze our butts in January. We are still there to help keep the peace and to fight terrorism.

Were you there with me, brother, when we went after the Taliban and Osama bin Laden in Afghanistan? We hunted down Osama bin Laden and finally found him in Abbotabad, Pakistan where Navy SEALs killed him. We participated in Operation Khanjar ("strike of the sword"). We felt the oppressive heat of summer in Kandahar. We are still there to help keep the peace and to fight terrorism.

On this day, Veterans’ Day, we honor all veterans, living or dead. We shall never forget. We stand shoulder to shoulder with all veterans whether we share the same foxhole or just the same experiences. We have your six.

For e-books by me, visit http://smashwords.com/profile/view/monteranderson.
Follow me on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/monteranderson
Follow my blog at http://monteranderson-author.com or http://monteranderson.wordpress.com


0 Comments

A Tribute to Veterans from Shakespeare

11/8/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I haven’t posted anything recently due to computer problems. I thought you might enjoy something a little different. I didn't write this --some guy named William Shakespeare did. It will resonate with veterans. It's from his play Henry V. It’s the speech that Henry V made to the English army shortly before the Battle of Agincourt on the morning of 25 October 1415. Here is the St. Crispin’s Day speech from William Shakespeare’s play, Henry V. Enjoy.
 
WESTMORELAND: O that we now had here
But one ten thousand of those men in England
That do no work to-day!

KING HENRY: What's he that wishes so?
My cousin, Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;
If we are mark'd to die, we are enow
To do our country loss; and if to live,
The fewer men, the greater share of honour.
God's will! I pray thee, wish not one man more.
By Jove, I am not covetous for gold,
Nor care I who doth feed upon my cost;
It yearns me not if men my garments wear;
Such outward things dwell not in my desires.
But if it be a sin to covet honour,
I am the most offending soul alive.
No, faith, my coz, wish not a man from England.
God's peace! I would not lose so great an honour
As one man more methinks would share from me
For the best hope I have. O, do not wish one more!
Rather proclaim it, Westmoreland, through my host,
That he which hath no stomach to this fight,
Let him depart; his passport shall be made,
And crowns for convoy put into his purse;
We would not die in that man's company
That fears his fellowship to die with us.
This day is call'd the feast of Crispian.
He that outlives this day, and comes safe home,
Will stand a tip-toe when this day is nam'd,
And rouse him at the name of Crispian.
He that shall live this day, and see old age,
Will yearly on the vigil feast his neighbours,
And say "To-morrow is Saint Crispian."
Then will he strip his sleeve and show his scars,
And say "These wounds I had on Crispin's day."
Old men forget; yet all shall be forgot,
But he'll remember, with advantages,
What feats he did that day. Then shall our names,
Familiar in his mouth as household words--
Harry the King, Bedford and Exter,
Warwick and Talbot, Salisbury and Gloucester --
Be in their flowing cups freshly rememb'red.
This story shall the good man teach his son;
And Crispin Crispian shall ne'er go by,
From this day to the ending of the world,
But we in it shall be remembered-
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers;
For he to-day that sheds his blood with me
Shall be my brother; be he ne'er so vile,
This day shall gentle his condition;
And gentlemen in England now a-bed
Shall think themselves accurs'd they were not here,
And hold their manhoods cheap whiles any speaks
That fought with us upon Saint Crispin's day.

For e-books by me, visit http://smashwords.com/profile/view/monteranderson.
Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/monteranderson
Follow my blog at http://monteranderson-author.com or http://monteranderson.wordpress.com

0 Comments

Senior Moments

11/2/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
I getting to that point in my life where my memory doesn’t serve me. I make notes to remind myself of everything. I have shopping lists, do lists, passwords and reminders for appointments. I find if I put something in my line of sight, I’ll remember it. To help myself remember or to remind myself of future events, I post notes to remind myself, mark up my calendar and use visual aids. I put them on my computer, refrigerator, and kitchen counters. I even put outgoing mail near the door where I’ll see it as I leave the house.
The other day I went to buy groceries at our favorite big box store. When I got inside, I realized I forgot my shopping list at home. After berating myself for one minute, I told myself to put on my big boy pants and try to remember everything on the list.
I decided if I went down every aisle, whenever I saw thing that I use, it would remind me to buy it if I needed it. I went down every aisle and loaded up my cart. By time I was done, the cart held twice the amount of groceries that I usually buy. I figured it was all consumable so no waste, no harm done. I was proud of myself for shopping without my usual list. When I got outside, it hit me; I forgot where I parked.
My memory is a strange beast. I think now that I’m older, my brain can’t retain any more data. Therefore, it seems to be doing a data dump. It pulls up an old memory file that I haven’t thought about in years. For example, it might pull up a name of someone from high school. Then my brain asks, “Do we need to keep this file?” If I don’t immediately try to contact that person, my brain dumps that memory. It’s lost forever. That leaves a little storage space for a new memory. I’ve learned how to use this to my advantage. Before I fall asleep, I might ask my brain to find the name of a long-lost friend. Bingo, the next morning, my brain shows me the file.
The other day I forgot what day it was. I thought it was trash day. I got up early and took out the trash. When the trash truck didn’t come, I figured out I was a day early. No sweat, lots of folks take out their trash the night before. I was just early. The problem is that I have done this before.
My memory was never very good anyway. Many, many years ago, my wife gave me a birthday card. I thought it was funny so I laughed. She said that she couldn’t do it anymore; she had given me that same card ten years in a row. I often run into a person I haven’t seen for a while and can’t remember their name. I have on a couple of occasions, let the dog out and forgot to let her back in.
In my experience, there seems to be three types of memory lost: the first is a total loss of memory of names, places or events; the second is a mixed match of memories (not remembering correctly or mixing two separate events together); and finally, false memories (remembering things that never happened – duh).
What I really hate is remembering things that never happened. For example, I was trying to remember if I took my morning meds and decided that I did. Later, I discovered that I hadn’t taken: them. I was remembering something that never happened.
​As we grow older, our memories are often the best things we have. I hate losing them. They say the memory is the second thing to go as you get old. I forgot what the first thing was. I thought I’d better write this blog before I forget.
For e-books by me, visit http://smashwords.com/profile/view/monteranderson.
Follow me on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/monteranderson
Follow my blog at http://monteranderson-author.com or http://monteranderson.wordpress.com
0 Comments
    Picture

    Author

    Monte is the author of several  e-books on Amazon and smashwords.com


    Buy Monte's e-books:
    The Throuple Private Eye--Business is Booming.
    ​​The Throuple Private Eye--Hate Crimes
    ​
    A Head for Murder
    The Register cliff Rapist
    The Clone Murders,
    Archimedes of Syracuse: Leonardo da Vinci's Mentor,
    Leadership for New Managers: Book Two

    FREE E-BOOKS:
    Angels and Gargoyles

    LINKS
    linkedin.com
    twitter.com
    brandyourself.com










    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.