Her Name Starts with a “C”
This piece first appeared in The Jackpine Writers’ Bloc “The Talking Stick” Volume 34
“I believe her name starts with a ‘C’,” she mused, stuck in the middle of her sentence. “You know her,” she continued. “She worked at the school when you were still there. Her husband sells real estate. They have two daughters. The oldest is at the University now. She’s doing a semester in Spain. In Granada. I think you had her in your Spanish class,” she looks into my eyes, hoping for a glimmer of recognition.
The conversation comes to a complete stand-still, going down a detour intended to recapture the name of the key character without which the point of the story would be lost. This only increased our determination to identify the subject of her vignette.
“Were her girls on the basketball team?” I interjected, trying to help solve the mystery. “Both really smart kids.”
“Yes, that’s the one. The daughter’s names are Sue and Luann. Sue was in the same grade as my son, but why can’t I remember their mom’s name? We used to be in water aerobics together on Wednesdays and . . .”
“Are you sure it starts with a ‘C’?” I interrupted. “That might be throwing us off.”
“Well, I guess it really doesn’t matter. We both know who we are talking about. I suppose it will come to me in the middle of the night and I’ll have to give you a call,” she finished with a sigh.
“Anyway,” she picked up her story line, and then paused. “I forgot what I was going to tell you! It must not have been very important. This is so exasperating! It’s happening to me more and more these days.”
“Just a minute, before you give up. You were talking about the upcoming fundraiser at your church. You were listing the volunteers already signed up and what they were going to do,” I added, hoping it would rekindle the story.
“Of course,” she continued, rolling her eyeballs toward the ceiling, perhaps expecting to see the answer there, then rerouted her conversation back to the woman whose name began with a “C.”
“We need more help in the kitchen. She is the best. A good cook, organizer and just always knows what to do. I’m hoping she’ll be interested, but I can’t call her if I don’t remember her name!”
“Wait, wait,” I stopped her. “The last name is Isaakson. Her husband is Charles. Charles Isaakson!” My brain now worked backwards using his name. Charles and… Charles and…”
“I have it!” I exclaimed. “You’re talking about Sharon! His name starts with a ‘C’ and hers starts with an ‘S’!” I clapped my hands together feeling like I had won the lottery.
“Of course, Sharon!” she grinned. “At least that ‘C’ came from somewhere. This brain fog stuff is so exasperating. Lately, I often catch myself with only the first letter of a word as a clue. I’m amazed at how much we all know about someone as we dance around in circles before arriving at that one name we need.” She smiled.
“Well, now you can give her a call and see if she is available to help you,” I offered. “Who else do you have working?”
“The ‘Crafty Ladies’ are handling the Christmas sale section. They are so talented. They do rosemaling, crocheting, quilting and others will do a bake sale. One of them is an expert lefse baker. She has three kids and lives out on the lake. Her husband teaches Drivers Ed. I believe you know her,” she grinned. “I believe her name starts with a ‘C’… “
Looking forward to hearing a story when this happened to you! Please add your experience in the comments.
Now, WHAT was I going to write here????
Don’t know what your were going to write, but your name starts with a “C”. . .
I’m right there with you somewhere in the ‘Cs.’ It’s a confounding and kinda scary place to be. Take a deep belly breath and keep moving forward . . .
Sometimes I am strangely comforted when this happens to younger folks, thinking its not me aging. However, genetics is a thing!
Just last Sunday I was greeted in church by a woman who recalled attending special positive behavioral training with me back in the 1980s. I was embarrassed to admit I couldn’t remember her name.
I have to get over being embarrassed to just ask. . . not good at that yet!
A woman excitedly greeted me at a store counter. She looked familiar. Missed me. How was I doing? Fine. How are you doing? Fine. All the time each of us was trying to come up with a name. A few more words and out the door she went. I asked the two clerks her name. They told me and I still didn’t know who she was. A few days later I came to her workplace, where I see her once a month. Recalling the earlier visit, she said, “Sorry, I think I called you Jeff.” “And I was struggling to remember your name as well.” We both laughed. Now I know who she is. . .
Ah Darrell, Living in a public sphere, such as a pastor or a teacher (and now an author) puts us in a place where people know our names, but we don’t have daily access to theirs. I love students coming over to me with their memories of times, now further in the past, but I no longer have names to go with the myriad faces. I need name tags!!
Definitely names, and sometimes nouns, are tougher to recall. However I have had this issue for decades, so it’s not just aging. i even used to mix up my two brother’s names in my thirties. I think for me part of it is I don’t think names are that important in general. i focus on other things about a person. Also as a nurse who has worked with people with dementia for 22 years, when people confess to me they are worried about early onset, I counter that it probably isn’t and never before in the history of humans have we had to take in so much information, and then update it on a regular basis. Let alone carry this in the middle of incredibly traumatic times/ if you’re paying attention.
Jan you are correct in suggesting to relax by going outside to experience nature.
BTW, I really enjoyed that parade in Spain, magnificent, and I am wondering what all the different groups represent ?
Stefani. . . Traumatic times. . . I went to the Community College production of: Grapes of Wrath last night. . . a clear reminder of historic / generational trauma in this country. Last week, our ICE numbers were down, but the Judge’s ruling to desist has passed and more folks were brought in again.
As to the Spain YouTube; notice the Christians and the Moors in the parade. I’m interested in the depiction of the women in these groups. Another moment of conflict in human history. Hm. All the drama produces music, dance and epic stories. Is that why humans are on the earth? Hm again.