My First "Senior Moment"

"Why are you frowning?" My wife asks.

"I just read this story about three Persian princes in the Shahnameh who are betrothed to three Yemeni princesses. But the father, Sarv, loves his daughters more than life itself and devises trials for the Persian princes to pass. If all three pass they get the girls. If they fail, well, you know: no booty calls for them." I wink back at my wife, who is reclining on the couch with her French textbook.

She looks over top of the book and asks, "Ok, so why does the story make you frown?"

"Well, this translation of the Shahnameh either sucks, or I've read this story before, but better, with more elaborate trials for the princes," I reply, telling more of the story with my hands than with my words.

"And?" The wife says, tilting her head quizically.

"I can't remember what book it was from. I've been through all my notes and I know it wasn't Sykes' History of Persia, nor Byron's Road to Oxiana, nor Kennedy's When Baghdad Ruled The Muslim World. But, but, I just can't remember. And I swear to God I read about the Simurgh in a damned sci-fi book before I read it in the Shahnameh."

"Maybe you're having a senior moment?" She says with a wry smile.

"But I'm only 35!"

Comments: 11

Mandi -Watch where the chalk-white arrows go. To the place where the sidewalk ends. S.S. Sep 2, 2006, 10:27pm EDT

yeah I'm 35 too...sucks doesn't it?

reply to this comment

Marsha B. Sep 2, 2006, 10:33pm EDT

LOL I have senior moments all the time. Been having them since my late twenties. Scary isn't it?

Leslie - The Soap Lady! Townsend Sep 2, 2006, 10:35pm EDT

Do you have kids yet??? If not, just wait, it gets MUCH worse! I used to be intelligent but the children sucked out most of brain cells through the placenta....well that is my excuse. It doesn't explain my husband's absent mindedness!
I think he would say that after so many years of imbibing so much information that like a computer with a full hard drive you start to sloooooooooooooow dooooooooown.
Of course the older you get, the more difficult it is to bounce back from late nights studying or doing projects and a poor diet with too much caffiene and highly processed food.
I stopped taking vitamins and suppliments about 4 years ago and a year ago it all took it's toll. The Doctor ran all sorts of tests on me to find out why I was having such severe fatigue, memory issues, muscle pain, headaches, you name it. Then I started taking vitamins and suppliments again. After 3 weeks I felt about 70% better and after a month I am back to my old self, or should I say my older self, since I am now 40? Take Care of yourself!

Cena W. Sep 2, 2006, 11:20pm EDT

Leslie, that is funny about the children, when mine were young I was so immersed in the mother bit, I played games with them, read childrens books to them, taught them what ever I could think of, etc etc, then finally realized I had not had an adult thought for a long time.
I took them to a babysitter for an afternoon and read an entire "adult level" book.
But, they do grow up and you do get to think about something besides homework and PTA and teacher conferences and . . .
Anyway it was all fun and it is possible to get you mind back.
Yes vitamins and a lot of exercise helps.
Sean, I've read that story, no . . .don't ask me

Abu Tarleyb Sep 3, 2006, 12:39am EDT

Your bibliography is most interesting. I just got "In Search of Zarathustra." But I'm going to pass on the history of Persia. $235 is a heap of money. Maybe next year.

Leah Christensen Sep 3, 2006, 2:42am EDT

I can almost hear you saying that last line aloud!

I'm only 24, and it's been happening to me for years!!!

Do you think it's because I'm dating an older guy? hahaha

Sean Paul Kelley Sep 3, 2006, 12:01pm EDT

Yeah, the History of Persia, as listed by Amazon, is pretty hefty. But you can find cheaper copies, as I got my two volume set for about $75. Still pricey, but well worth it, as I leave for Iran in 6 weeks. I think you will enjoy Zarathustra a lot.

I still haven't figured out my puzzle, I was a mess last night going through every damned book in the library we are lucky enough to have here at home.