Older and wiser? I wonder...

Is it just me, or am I getting dumber with age instead of wiser? I'm 40 years old, and I am constantly walking around looking for items that are already in my hand: car keys, cell phone, coffee cup! How does one forget they are holding a coffee cup?!

My 16 year old daughter asked me a few months ago, with great concern in her voice, if I had Alzheimers. This was after walking out of Steak & Shake, digging in my purse for my keys, which I was already holding. And forgetting where we'd parked. Umm, and forgetting to leave the waitress a tip. I chalked it up to a stressful back-to-school shopping day.

I used to say that my babies sucked my brain cells out in utero, which I still maintain is true to some extent. (after all, that would explain why they are exceptionally brilliant!) But the last was produced 16 years ago, so - like my "baby fat" excuse that I've been using ever since, that's getting a little old as well.

I can concentrate on a variety of things in my work life, carry on normal conversations, even study intense topics with perfect understanding. But I can't remember my lunch that's sitting beside my purse when I leave in the morning! My neighbors must get a kick out of the daily routine of me pulling out of the driveway, backing up, running back into the house for some forgotten item, then getting half-way down the road again before I have to turn around and come back for something else that I've missed.

Whenever I tell another woman about this - especially those a little older - they nod sympathetically and say "Oh honey, it's just the hormones. It'll get better." Hormones? Ok, I can live with that explanation - but WHEN will it get better?? My 99 year old grandmother still complains of hot flashes, for pete's sake! This is what I toiled my whole life (thus far) for - being senile at 40 and having hot flashes for the next 59 years?!

I think I'll go with Maxine's explanation...