Saturday, January 23, 2021

The Memory

 

His memory was remarkable. Those who knew him said even that it was a marvel. Just for kicks they’d put him to the test to stunning results. If only, however, he was capable of remembering anything of significance.

 

It started in grade school. One Monday morning during the fall he and his pals were lined up in the playground after recess awaiting their orderly return to the classroom. There was conversation regarding Sunday’s football games from the day before. A question arose as to who had won a game between two teams. He advised of the winner, followed by a subsequent query as to his certainty, to which he confirmed by reciting the final score.

 

“How do you remember that game,” it was posed.

 

“What do you mean,” he responded with a scrunched forehead indicating befuddlement.

 

“Do you know the other scores, too,” continued the questioning.

 

“Yes, why, you don’t,” thinking it odd that his pal did not remember the scores. He then rattled off the final scores of all 14 games from the day before. His classmates looked at each other, back at him, then the ringleader said, “You’re weird.”

 

Weird, he pondered. Conversely, he thought his classmate was weird for having not remembered the scores, such an easy task. Then he thought, maybe it’s true, am I the oddball? And so it started, a budding awareness of an acknowledged idiosyncrasy.

 

Being weird became an accepted fact at his young age and with that exchange, elucidation attained. His remembrance excelled when it came to sports. Could it also possibly extend to other areas of interest or usefulness? Sadly, as it turned out, mostly no.

 

He eventually came to understand he had no better proficiency for remembering useful facts than most people. He had difficulty even as a grade school student accomplishing the common task of memorizing Abe Lincoln’s concise Gettysburg Address. The quadratic formula and most other numeric formulas also eluded his facile recall, requiring instead study and practice. However, what color shirt you were wearing last summer when you went for a hike? He’d remember. The name of your aunt mentioned in passing from an anecdote five years ago? He still knows. The name of the two people he just met at a business meeting? He couldn’t remember their names, usually, but he’d be able to recall the color of their ties, blouse, whether or not the person wore glasses, or on what side of head lays their part.

 

His girlfriend was often to chide him because ‘You never listen’ or ‘I told you.’ It was never well received when he responded, “Sorry, monkey, I remember you saying it, but it wasn’t insignificant enough for me to remember.” ‘Monkey’ he called her because he liked this one. Regardless, the veracity of his remark pertaining to the lack of insignificance was of no consolation.

 

When he needed a mood boost he’d sit in the dark and watch Slumdog Millionaire. The movie involved a child whose head was filled with random facts culminating in a big payout. Those who knew him well thought it odd his finding a spirit boost in this film. 

 

Trivia-related television game shows where one could win money he deemed low-grade arousing his considerable ire. The game show format, it was later deduced, denigrated the talent of which he boasted, while the trivia game show portrayed in the Slumdogfilm he somehow deemed uplifting. It’s as if one was classic literature, the movie, while the other, TV game shows, were the intellectual equivalent of graphic novels. “The difference matters, he knew the answers from his lived experience,” he said of the boy in Slumdog, “it wasn’t the enervating mendacity of book work.”

 

The justification made sense to him adamantly insisting there was no incongruity to his logic. After all, on numerous occasions he boisterously vocalized his distaste for game shows based in trivia. He equated inconsequential trivia to if Mozart had wasted his wonderful musical talent relegating himself to the playing of show tunes or writing advertisement jingles. This, of course, made for a ridiculous analogy given the nonsense bumping around inside his own head. There is, of course, a complete lack of intersection between the quality of his skill compared to Mozart and that ilk.

 

His memory was infallible, yet easily fallible, pending the array of content. He couldn’t remember Uncle Bob’s birthday. But he could not forget that it coincided with the date years ago when the family cat never came home and is surmised to have succumbed to the local coyotes. In this way he never forgot Uncle Bob’s birthday despite his inability to remember without first taking the roundabout course to completion.

 

While his sporting recall did excel, it was often subjected to similar circuitous routes. He could not remember the years a football team emerged victorious with a Super Bowl championship. He could, however, remember where he watched every Super Bowl dating back to when he was nine years old. Thinking of each game in this way, where he viewed the contest, he could induce himself to know the year in which the team in question won the thing. 

 

“When did the Bears beat the Bills because of that missed field goal attempt as the clock ran out,” he’d be asked.

 

“I was watching that game upstairs at my parents’ house on the little TV while visiting from college, so, January 1991. It was Scott Norwood, the Bills’ kicker, he went wide right as the game clock expired,” he’d correctly respond.

 

Whenever friends or acquaintances squabbled about details, he’d be called in as the tiebreaker. It was not uncommon for him to get infused into a three-way phone call, “Hi, it’s me and Jim’s on the line with us. Remember when we saw that movie in Old Town Pasadena the afternoon of your birthday 15 or so years ago? What was the name of that restaurant we ate at,” the question might be posed.

 

“It wasn’t a restaurant, it was a bar on Colorado Blvd., The Dirty Diver we called it. And it wasn’t dinner, really. We had jalapeno nachos that you said were disgusting, so you ordered the big pub pretzel and dipped into the rancid dipping sauce, which we told you not to eat. You later got sick at my apartment. Jim, of course, wasn’t hungry and ate from the well-handled and grimy community bowl of peanuts all evening from on the bar.”

 

Having gotten along in years, virtually every one of his friends and extended family were aware of his annoying talent. They dutifully did their best to maneuver with a wide berth in casual conversation seeking to avoid another unsolicited memory episode. He eventually came to accept and embrace his esoteric prowess of nonsensical recall. Like so much lint in his coat pocket was his life’s worth of trivia accumulation. 

Saturday, January 16, 2021

The COVID Chronicle, January 1-15, 2021

 

January 2 [Saturday]

Our garbage service is receiving a Covid-related change. Garbage remains weekly pickup, but purportedly due to Covid-afflicted decreased manpower, the recycling and green bins will now alternate weeks. Previously the three bins were eligible weekly for curbside pickup. With this change green and recycling will go aloft on alternating weeks until further notice. It’s understandable, really, and I have no beef with the reduced pickup. Not OK, however, is the astounding bravado of a corresponding rate increase occurring at the same time as the 33% service decrease

 

January 3 [Sunday]

I’m curious as to what’s going on with the vaccinations. Health care workers have understandably been prioritized recipients. While the denizens are plied with trust-building photos and videos of public figures getting vaccinated, there is a minor percentage, though considerable number, of health care workers abstaining. What gives? Are they concerned that a first round of vaccine was maybe rushed through and they’re worried of side effects? I can’t imagine it’s a politically based abstinence. Time will tell, I suppose. There are also reports of vaccines being thrown out because they are not getting used or have expired. This is unbelievably sloppy. What, the vaccine-bearers can’t proactively send word to at-risk locals to offer free vaccinations instead of throwing them out?

 

January 5 [Tuesday]

A friend in Singapore ran out of books to read during Shelter In Place. Book stores and libraries were closed due to Shelter In Place and the guy has no eReader. I know, first question, ‘What, Amazon doesn’t deliver there?’ Regardless, he went empty at a most inopportune time. Locally, our libraries are not open for public perusal, but books and items can be requested online followed with an email notification when they’re ready for retrieval. Book stores here in southern California were closed earlier during Shelter In Place, but they reopened long ago simply with reduced occupancy limits. 

[Note: my pal has since acquired an iPad and is now reading electronic books. He’s especially bulking up on the free books in the public domain.]

 

January 6 [Wednesday]

Barbarians stormed the Capitol today, the morons. President Biden’s election was to be certified and sore losers took up with violence to break windows and prance into the Senate, plus we’re receiving reports of other government buildings throughout the country being abused. Shameful. There’s no Covid angle, just documenting the dumb for posterity. I hope they will shortly be coupled with the full extent of the law.

 

January 7 [Thursday]

One of [the boy’s] friends got vaccinated, college-aged. He’d been prioritized because he works in a dental office, plus he has a lung issue qualifying him as at-risk. I’m hoping the occasional close-proximity vaccination updates favorably sway my mom to abide her own vaccination when offered.

 

January 8 [Friday]

President Trump has been banned from Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites. No Covid angle here, I’m just documenting a major note. President Trump did react in a limp manner in not issuing a timely denunciation of those citizens violating the Capitol. He should have done a better job making it clear that such behavior was not acceptable, not that anybody in their right mind need to be told. My beef is two-fold. Banning leads to huge gaps of inconsistent enforcement. Troubling messages have been conveyed by extreme segments of both political teams, but if only one side is silenced then trouble brews. Second, the riots this summer resulting in burned buildings and businesses being destroyed were not met with the same vehemence as the Capitol violators. For me, I want both sets of rioters subjected to the full force of the law. But I’ll just leave this entry for documenting purposes on the decrepitude of our times.

 

January 9 [Saturday]

My football team, the Cleveland Browns, are in the playoffs for the first time since 2002. I’m excited about the quality of their play this year. The playoff game is tomorrow and the coach, and several players, are ineligible due to positive Covid tests! So Browns play without their coach and those players. In other news, [the boy] and I baked a 15-lb. turkey! True. This was done to celebrate their long-awaited playoff berth and an effort to brew up positive Wildcard weekend playoff mojo. Hope it works.

 

January 10 [Sunday] 

Holy Toledo, the Cleveland Browns were expected to get crushed by the Pittsburgh Steelers in today’s playoff game, but emerged with a most unlikely victory. Their coach watched from his home without contact with his coaching staff due to his positive Covid test. Anyway, so the Browns play next weekend. I will make an apple pie [premade crust, the rest is up to me] next weekend in an effort to carry forward positive Divisional playoff mojo. Again hope it works

 

January 11 [Monday]

Wife Klem and I are slated for a March vaccination, according to the age-category schedule. The kids, however, would not be lumped in with us, which is a bummer. Dodger stadium is being considered as a drive-through vaccination center. Thoughts of that beautiful stadium being run through with vehicles conjures sad imagery, but I’m pretty sure it would only be the stadium parking lot.

 

January 14 [Thursday]

Shelter In Place has reached an unhealthy level here at home. Sure, I understand, things are tough all over. We’ve one kid who’s an introvert and this longevity is causing him to regress into his reclusion, it’s gone immersive. He gets out once in a while. He and Wife Klem volunteered at the local state park this week which was very good. But I’m hoping he finds some cause to get out under his own volition. 

The other kid’s an extrovert and she seems to be breaking. She’s active online talking and gaming with friends. I like that she has her conversations in the dining room so we can hear what’s going on, rather than secluded in her room. The conversations sound mostly fun and upbeat, not worrisome, but not seeing or hearing what’s on the other end bugs me. She’s withdrawing into this virtual dynamic.

I look forward to reverting back to the good old days of pre-Covid when our concerns are hoping they get good grades, drive safely, don’t engage drug use and no dangerous sex. We’ve totally lost on the battle of screen time. Steffi and I are trying to keep this thing together and everyone healthy for a little longer. We can do it. 

 

Monday, January 4, 2021

The COVID Chronicle, December 16-31, 2021

 

December 16 [Wednesday]

Vaccination with one degree of separation! I have a direct line of someone who has been vaccinated. She’s a nurse in Colorado, [Wife Klem’s] cousin, and was prioritized due to her work. This is exciting hearing a direct vaccination story.

 

December 17 [Thursday]

We’ve modified our shopping habits during Shelter In Place to accommodate a reduced possible exposure to Covid. [Wife Klem’s] going out into the wilds this morning for supplies. My contribution to the effort has me taking Ghost dog for his morning walk instead of her. This will allow her an earlier entry for hunting and gathering when the store is less congested with the masses. I’d otherwise just be rocking the cardio machine at a similarly early hour for my morning workout. A fair trade off.

 

December 18 [Friday]

Cheryl’s dad has been diagnosed with Covid! This is the closest family touch we’ve had. He’s had other ailments, had been in assisted living, then came home with continued care and has since been confirmed as positive. Waiting to see how that turns out, plus if other family members are afflicted. Dark Christmas.

[Note: Her mom and brother have since tested positive. Mom is also hospitalized, but everyone is stable.]

 

December 21 [Monday]

My friend had Covid! He’s an insurance agent in Lake Elsinore and this is his first day back. We haven’t spoken lately, though we pick up communication frequency during baseball season with playful banter. I have no details yet regarding his experience. I hope his family has managed to stay Covid-free.

 

December 22 [Tuesday]

Covid’s been a massive life changer for many people. I know, call me Captain Obvious. For me, I’ve been lucky, very lucky. It’s been a huge inconvenience, but not awful like for so many. However, my company car’s been inactive so long in the driveway, other than its weekly spin, that a squirrel is wreaking havoc. It’s continually getting under the hood of the car, eating snails and dates leaving debris and poop, as evidenced by the empty snail shells, fruit pits, and poop, then chewing on car wires. Pulling out of the driveway this morning for the car’s weekly spin, the dashboard light activated, again. The car’s already been in the shop and fixed twice and now it’s happened a third time! I’m reluctant and embarrassed to take it back to the shop. 

 

December 24 [Thursday]

Merry Christmas Eve! We dined at home on tamales, then opened gifts, including a few wrapped presents for Ghost Dog. Then for the fun stuff, the evening, the four of us hung out like a real family! We were downstairs all together watching You Tube videos, playing video games and talking. This is unusual because the piglets are usually self-sequestered communicating online with their pals [Discord, Twitch, Text], but their friends aren’t available tonight. They must be with their families doing Christmas things. So by default, they had little choice but to stick together, as if we liked each other. And, of course, as far as I know we do, but it turns out I’m often the last person around here to find things out. Either way, I like my family and will gladly take them by any means I can get them.

 

December 25 [Friday]

[morning] Merry Christmas! I made a solo trek to the Safehouse [my parents’ abode]. [My sister] is visiting for a week with her boy and dog. I hung outside donning my mask, and three layers of clothing because it’s a chilly 63F outside. The visit extended itself to indoors, and I conservatively departed a little earlier than scheduled due to the indoor socializing. Today was a peaceful visit lacking the typically chaotic Safehouse Christmas of pre-Covid Christmases past. 

 

[afternoon] Our family tradition of a bike ride on Christmas Eve got a one-day reprieve on account of a light drizzling rain and cold weather yesterday. The four of us went to the Bausch & Lomb office park up the street. We rode today, [my daughter] and I, while [the boy] and [Wife Klem] walked Ghost Dog. A pleasant family afternoon.

 

December 26 [Saturday]

Curbside pancake pickup this morning. During Christmas break [my daughter] and I are on a mission to find the best local pancakes. She picked out five restaurants from which we’ll order over the course of two weeks. This morning was the third of five mission forays. She called in our order, we drove by, and picked up without even exiting the vehicle. Convenient and slick. The hot cakes, though, were not award winning. Good enough, I mean pancakes are almost always delicious, but today’s power ranking is only average.

 

December 31 [Thursday]

Happy New Year! A fun movie watched with [Wife Klem], Palm Springs, about two people stuck in a time loop. Then the four of us were all in bed by 10 pm Pacific Time, just the way I like it. Peace to you and this new year.