Forgetfulness leads to evaluation of pastimes

Perpetually escaping from my lips these days is "I can't find..." or "Where did I put...?"

It seems I start every day with these quandaries and repeat them, accompanied by frustrating and time consuming searches, several times a day.So when I saw an article with the headline, "Earlier is better to build brain strength," I latched onto it like a drowning woman thrown a buoy.

While the article did mention it was an advantage to start "brain care" in one's thirties and forties (ages long past for me,) I remembered the adage, "better late than never" and proceeded avidly.I skimmed the fifteen strategies hoping against hope to find quick catch-me-ups for my forgetful brain. The recommendations were:

Join clubs.Egad!It's impossible to live in Sun City and not join clubs.I can check off that one.

Develop a hobby or two.Are you kidding?It's trying to keep track of all my clubs and activities that over-taxes my brain.

Practice writing with your non-dominant hand.I'll admit this was a new one for me, and I did try it.Let's just say that ancient Sanskit was more decipherable than my left-handed writing.But, I know, I'm missing the point.It's the mental challenge that counts.

Take dance lessons.Now this one really made me laugh.Dance has taken over my life.As if tap and ballet weren't enough, I've added jazz and occasional ballroom dancing.

Start gardening.Well, I don't actually garden, but all the planning and care of my outdoor pots and my tenderly nurtured house plants must count.

Buy a pedometer and walk 10,000 steps a day.I easily walk 10,000 steps a day looking for all the things I can't find.No need for a pedometer.

Read and write daily.Give me a break!I'm a member of two book clubs and my computer winces when it spies me head

ed in its direction.

Learn a new language.Just ask my succession of Spanish tutors about that one.

Play board games like Scrabble and Monopoly.While I admit I don't do this, don't crosswords count?

Take classes throughout your life time.If the truth be known, I've earned a generalist Ph.D. given the number and variety of courses I've taken and continue to take since college.

Listen to classical music.Classical music is truly my favorite although occasionally I slip in a Kingston Trio CD for a return to memory lane or a Shania Twain for a taste of modern country.

Learn a musical instrument.Although my piano sits largely untouched, Iplay an instrument as a ding-a-ling with the Sun City Chimers.

Travel.I'm convinced we've met our brain maintenance responsibilities in this regard with Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Italy recently crossed off our bucket list.

Pray.I do this.With so much joy and alternately, so much sorrow surrounding us, who can help but pray?

Meditate.Admittedly, I do stumble on this one.How can I possibly meditate when my brain is busy trying to remember where I put something or what I was about to do?

I guess reading these suggestions was helpful, however, one final question still persists.If I'm doing everything right, why do I still have to ask, "Where is my ...?"

Well, perhaps there is one more thing I can do.

Scrabble, anyone?

Wanda Lane lives in Sun City Hilton Head.