Did you see that old movie “Groundhog Day?” Bill Murray plays a TV weatherman sent to Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, to cover their celebration with the famous groundhog “Punxsutawney Phil.” But he gets stuck in some time loop, and lives February 2 over and over and over and… seriously, he memorized everything that was going to be said or done.
Disconcerting, to say the least. Especially the first few times it happens and he’s the only one who notices the time loop.
Well, I often feel the same way, even with no large, introverted celebrity rodent in sight.
Let’s say I walk into the laundry room and notice a folded pair of clean socks on the countertop.
“I gotta put that away. After I start the washer.”
Load washer, add detergent, push “Start.”
Wander off, forgetting all about the socks.
Next time I walk into the laundry room, I notice the same folded pair of socks:
“I gotta put that away. After I start the washer.”
Load washer, add detergent, push “Start.”
Wander off, forgetting all about the socks.
Next time I walk into the laundry room, I notice the same folded pair of socks:
“I gotta put that away. After I start the washer.”
Load washer, add detergent, push “Start.”
Wander off………..
You feel my pain? Why, O why do I not simply grab the stupid socks and put them away? Must this tiny chore stay on my conscience for weeks?
Worse, the time loops keep piling up…
Pick up letter from desk.
“I gotta change my address with these people. After I file these other documents.”
Set letter back down. File other documents.
Wander off, forgetting all about the change of address.
“This shower soap is almost gone. I’ll get out another bar. As soon as I get dressed….”
“I need to take my planner with me today. I’ll bring it down from my office. Next time I go upstairs….”
As Yogi Berra famously said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.”
Yep, I’m raising the “bar” on forgetfulness!
What to do?
I’m open to advice. Meanwhile, I’m going to try slowing down, taking a deep breath, and finishing what I have right in front of me. First.
As a former boss from my younger days advised, “Touch each piece of paper only once.”
I should write that on a card and post it at my desk.
Right after I check Facebook……
Your turn: What “time loops” do you experience again and again? Your comments (in “Leave a Reply” below) always brighten my day.
Thanks for reading,
Jan
Jan C Johnson, Writer 
I am working HARD on disciplining myself to put the clothes away from the dryer as soon as they are done…but I often put the leftover odds and ends from the dryer on my bedroom chair and then forget all about them, until I put more leftover clothes on the chair the next week.
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Ah, yes…. the infamous Chair Of Leftover Laundry! Got one! Thanks for stopping by!
On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 10:45 PM, Joywriting: Everybody Has a Story wrote:
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Once I thought I would be my sister’s roommate in the memory care unit because our mother has Alzheimers. Now as my mother goes farther even quicker and I see myself do stupid things I think, I may be my mother’s roommate!!!
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Oh goodness, I feel ya…. is it “gallows humor” yet?
On Fri, Feb 2, 2018 at 11:57 PM, Joywriting: Everybody Has a Story wrote:
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I don’t know how many times I pass things that need to be put away, a few days later it is put away and something else takes its place. And pass by the phone and need to call some one,I’ll do that later, and the phone rings and that is who I was going to call.. I’m not sure if I’m ahead or behind.
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