The End of the Multi-tasking Diva

Where in the World is my Brain?

Have you seen it?

I seem to have misplaced it recently.

I used to keep better tabs on it, always knowing where it was. I made sure it was easily accessible when needed. But the past few weeks, it’s been on some sort of vacation; however it forgot to take the rest of me with it.

Is it the time-change? (Doesn’t it bother you when people use the time change for an excuse? “Oh, my hip hurts . . . it’s that darn time change!” or “Oh, my coffee is cold . . . darn time change!”) Yeah, that drives me crazy too!

Last week, I missed the deadline for Katie's December "Hot Lunch" order at school . . . and her November Book club order . . . and the RSVP for a breakfast at the school. I had the fliers for each of these activities on the counter, but the days came and went and I missed them. Augh.

During my creative painting evenings last week, I lost a bottle of acrylic paint that I was using just minutes before. It seemed to have walked away. My eyes didn’t see it when it left, and I swore I just had it in my hand. About an hour later, it showed up on the counter in the kitchen, looking at me like I was crazy. I must have moved it there when my scattered brain was multi-tasking. I used to pride myself in my multi-tasking abilities. But now, I’m beginning to think I’m not as good at them as I used to be.

The day after that, I misplaced the instructions to my holiday plastic canvas project. I had them right in front of me, and then all of a sudden . . . poof! Gone. 24 hours later, I discovered them in between the cushions of our love seat (where they slid all the way down to the ground. Both sides of our love seat recline so the pages just fell down between them.) But I swore, I tore our family room apart looking for them (and even looked under the love seat). I couldn’t find them anywhere.

Finally, Monday afternoon I realized I misplaced my debit card. I was in my car, in line at the ATM machine, waiting for my turn. When I opened my wallet to pull out my debit card, the usual place it is housed was empty. Panic quickly came over me and I looked through my purse and found . . . nothing. I pulled out of line and moved to the side of the parking lot, where I then got out of my car and began to look through my car for any sign of debit life (I have a bad habit of placing the card in my visor when in a drive-through, and thought perhaps I put it there.) Let me tell you, I gave passer-by’s a great show of behind as it was stuck up in the air while I my searched under mats and seats, under car seats and stuffed animals. I had just about given up hope . . . and was about to walk inside of the bank to report it lost . . . when I checked one last * * special * * compartment in my purse. There, staring back at me was my debit card. And all of a sudden I remembered placing it there, in a * * special * * place, so I wouldn’t loose it.

Yeah, right. It seemed like a good idea, at the time.

I think it is all to do with trying to do too many things at once (like signing a check and writing out a deposit envelope while at the ATM, or like making dinner and painting at the same time.) I think all of these little episodes of forgetfulness are my brains way of telling me to s--l--o--w  d--o--w--n.

So, effective immediately, I'm taking a break from multi-tasking. I think these recent unsuccessful attempts are a clear sign of  STOPPING THE MADNESS . . . and slowing down.

Just in time for the holidays.

How about you . . . ever feel like you missing your brain? Or is it just me??