Writer’s Roost

Not remembering a date is symptom of CRS disease


 

 

Memory is a big deal as we age. Some of us in the septuagenarian generation can handle long term/long ago remembrance, while others do well with short term recollection, things that happened in the recent past.

What prompted this examination of memory is a recent mistake with a special date, my youngest brother’s birthday. I called to issue a “have a happy day,” and caught him just as he was walking into a business meeting.

He informed me it was not his birthday but rather our niece’s and that his was three days later.

I explained to him that he would, before too long, reach that time when his memory would begin to falter.

At that point I remembered an experience with a customer at a newspaper I was editing and publishing nearly a quarter century ago.

I had just arrived at The Jasper Newsboy a few weeks earlier and had written some columns and editorials that apparently startled readers. It seems, I was told by a number of them, that no one had ever written an opinion piece in the newspaper before.

As a matter of fact, I’d already had an elected official “explain” to me that he didn’t “need no nosey newspaper man meddlin’ in my binniss.”

A few days later, I had one of the most delightful visits (and there have been many) I’ve ever had in this wonderful business in which I’ve been privileged to spend most of my life. Bess Childers, a charming older woman, who taught at a private school in Jasper, came in to meet me and to congratulate me on the newspaper showing some backbone and taking stands for the betterment of the town and its residents.

Of course, this pleased me immensely. In addition, she was so interesting that we began to visit about a number of things and were just having a grand time.

In a bit, Bess (she insisted I call her by her first name) was telling a tale and suddenly stopped in mid-story with this puzzled look on her face.

Suddenly, her eyes sparkled and a mischievous grin chased the puzzlement away as she said, “You’ll have to forgive an old lady with CRS disease.”

That was a new one on me and in the serious vein I thought the conversation was in, I said questioningly: “CRS disease?”

Bess said, “ Yeah, Can’t Remember S—!” and flashed a huge grin.

My shock was quickly overcome by my rumbling guffaws, as I realized I’d been suckered by a wonderfully mischievous little gray-haired woman, who didn’t take herself too seriously. Every encounter thereafter was absolutely as much a treasure as was that introduction. So for the last quarter century or so when I’m frequently afflicted by a memory lapse, I think of Bess and CRS disease. Additionally, I’ve had every bit as much fun with it as I’m sure she did in her fascinating life. Bess devoted most of her time to children, education and her church, Trinity Episcopal.

As for remembering Little Brother’s birthday, there are many reasons I should remember his.

I’m the oldest of four boys, almost 14 years older than he is. Our dear, sweet mother worked herself silly trying to cook three square meals a day, do laundry, keep a garden, work in the church, sell Avon (yep) and keep her sanity.

Mother assigned me the job of being an almost full-time “nurse” and babysitter for Little Brother. I also cleaned house, helped in the yard and garden and grocery-shopped for Mom, her mother and her grandparents.

In high school, I had a steady girlfriend, Barbara Ford, who was a wonderful human being. Mother adored her as well and Barbara loved her and my little brothers. So much so, that when I went to pick her up for our weekly date to see a movie at the drive-in theater in Fairfield, she’d say, “Where’s Danny?” And, away we’d go back to my house to get Danny and a diaper bag (groan) and off to the movie we’d go.

It just plain wasn’t fair.

Willis Webb is a retired community newspaper editor-publisher of more than 50 years experience. He can be reached by email at wwebb1937@att.net.

WILLIS WEBB is a retired community newspaper publisher of more than 55 years experience. He can be reached by email at wwebb1937@att.net.


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