All of us lose things from time to time. Or, at least we think we’ve lost whatever it is we can’t find.

Regardless, the frantic search begins to locate whatever it is we’ve misplaced. You know how it goes. The other day I couldn’t find my car keys, and while searching for them (and swearing at the dog), I found the mail sitting on the desk and proceeded to look through it. Then, the phone rang, and I stopped by the refrigerator to grab a quick bite before heading out the door to get in my car, having forgotten I was looking for my car keys. By this time, it didn’t really matter, because I couldn’t remember where I was going anyway.

I had just experienced what has become known as a “senior moment.” Although this term originated in the United States during the mid-’90s, it has become more widely used and is now applied to any situation when someone has a momentary lapse of memory, no matter how young or old they may be.

We’ve all seen the eBay advertisement that states, “Whatever it is, you can find it on eBay.” So, I went in search of “senior moment” on eBay. Sure enough, eBay has senior moments for sale. I also found out there is a drug called “senior moment” that can be bought online and with a 5% discount and free shipping.

I didn’t delve into what this drug is all about. I forgot why I would need it anyway. Who in their right mind would want to purchase a senior moment? Don’t we all have enough without going out and buying more?

It turns out that the senior moments eBay has for sale is in fact a board game for caregivers and the people they care for who have memory loss problems. Anyway, who needs games or drugs to enhance senior moments? Certainly not me!

Someone (I really don’t remember who) told me recently that sometime back she had cataract surgery and now only needs reading glasses. She thought that was great until she kept losing them. She finally went to her local dollar store and bought 10 pairs, placed strategically around her house, so she has a pair when and where she needs them.

It’s been noted that, as we age, we tend to shrink in stature and our minds begin the “melt-down” process. Seems to me the brain automatically goes into the overload mode. It probably isn’t designed to cope with the stress of living with all the new fangled electronic devices we have these days.

So, my curious mind wants to know which comes first, the shrinking or the absent-mindedness? I haven’t noticed any shrinkage anywhere on my body lately. But, I have taken note of the fact that I’ve already experienced a lifetime of senior moments.

Just this week, I overheard a “friend” telling some other friends that I found a container of sliced tomatoes in the pantry. It was an honest mistake. I fully intended to put the container in the refrigerator, but I was trying to do too many things at once, my brain went into the overload mode and I had yet another senior moment.

I’m a time sensitive package of humanness. You know, at the age that just when I think I’m getting it all together, everything begins to fall apart. Not to worry. I’ve decided age matters only if you are a fine wine. Just for the record. I’m not losing my mind, just my sanity. And, I’m not overweight. I just have dense tissue, but that’s another story.

Now, if I can just remember where I put my wine glass, I think I’ll pour myself some fine wine and try to remember where I put those darn car keys!

Email Betty Heath at begeheath690@aol.com.