Do you know what I miss most?

I miss my ability to segue!

Segueing is not a Latin American dance, like the Cha-Cha or the Salsa. It is the ability to stop in the middle of one story and begin another story and eventually come back to the first story, without a break or a seam. Segue - Random House Dictionary - an uninterrupted transition move made between one musical section or composition and another.

In my younger days I could keep three or more stories going at the same time, without losing a beat. Now, I have to ask "Where was I?" or "What was I speaking about?" to get back on the track that I had completely lost. I still remember my address and social security number so I haven't lost everything. Still I wish I could segue again like I used to.

Another thing I regret is the ability to call someone on the telephone and give them more than one message at a time. When I have two or more topics to talk about, I manage to get one across and completely forget the other. This usually requires an additional phone call 20 minutes after the first one.

Also when I go to the supermarket and have four items to purchase, I forget the most important one and have to return the next day. This can be very frustrating to someone who was an ace in anatomy, and could reel off all the nerves, blood vessels and muscles without missing a beat.

What can be done to recover lost abilities?

I am quite sure there is no pill or transfusion that will help in these matters. They can replace knees, hips, kidneys, hearts, lungs and livers. So far nothing is on the horizon for the deficiencies I have mentioned, heretofore.

One solution might be KISS.

Keep It Simple Stupid! Do not bite off more than you can digest. One story at a time. One telephone message at a time. Purchase only a few items at the grocery story, or make a written list.

The worst part is that I did not physically feel the attributes slipping away. It all happened so gradually through the years.

C'est la vie! That's life!