Things can get a little hectic for all of us, with more things to juggle then we have time or attention to handle. But today, I think I reached a pinnacle. While in a conversation, I set down my phone alongside a set of batteries. A moment or two later, the phone rang, and I found myself being asked for the name of a co-worker. Just the question, and being caught off guard by it in the midst of other distractions, cause me to freeze, unable to recall a name I use weekly, that of a person I interact with as frequently, and I stood there struggling for minutes without any result.
But that’s not the worst part.
During the conversation, I noticed that the person I’d been talking to when the phone rang had stepped away. I turned to where we’d been standing, picked up the set of batteries I’d set by my phone, and noticed the phone missing, turned and asked them if they had picked it up.
Only, I had it in my hand and pressed to my ear in the aforementioned conversation at the time. :-/
UPDATE: OK, now I’m scared. At a wedding reception last night, seated with a number of people, I glanced around, saw my son but not my daughter, and asked my wife where she was. She replied “She’s on your lap” and it was true… in fact I had one arm supporting her while I asked of her whereabouts.
Funny and Frightening all at the same time.