AAADD = Know the symptoms!

I was recently diagnosed with A.A.A.D.D. = Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder.

And I happen to know some other folks that have this as well. Due to the sensitive nature of this disorder, I won’t mention any names. However, in order for you to realize that you have it, here are the clues as to how it manifests itself:

In the morning, I return from bringing my daughter to school, and see that the lawnmower and can of gas are still sitting in the driveway from when I mowed the lawn last night. As I put them away into the shed, I notice that I had also left the door to the shed wide open last night. Putting the lawnmower and gas can away, I see the flag down on the mailbox and I realize that I didn’t get yesterday’s mail. So I head down to the end of the driveway, and see that I need to water my lilies. I grab the mail, bring it up to the house, drop it on the front steps and turn on the hose. I then remember I wanted to wash the car yesterday, and so as I head back to the garage, I notice the mail on the front steps, and decide to go through the mail first before I wash the car.

Walking inside, I put my car keys on the breezeway secretary, drop the mail on the kitchen table, and see several notices for collections. I may as well pay the bills, so I walk over to the wall organizer next to the phone and grab the cheque-book. I return to the kitchen table, sit down and as I open it up, I notice that there is only one cheque left. The extra cheques are in the desk below the phone. So I get up, and as I pass the kitchen island, I find (for the 3rd time) the cup of coffee I'd been drinking .

I grab my coffee along the way and discover that it is cold. I can drink cold coffee, but feel I need a new, fresh cup. Next to the coffee maker is a vase of flowers on the kitchen counter that I was going to water. I turn around, put the cold cup of coffee on the island, and see my notebook computer on the kitchen table, with a blinking message. As I head over to see who is trying to contact me, I discover my reading glasses that I've been searching for all morning next to the computer. I know I need to put them back in their case, and put the case back up on the counter top, so the kids don't get to them.

As I reach for the case for my glasses on the other side of the table, I spot the remote control for the TV; someone had left it on the living room floor last night.

Tonight, when it is time to watch TV, I'll be looking for the remote where it belongs, next to the TV (I won't remember that it's on the living room floor). So I decide to put it back where it belongs, but I suddenly realize I have my glasses in one hand, and their case in the other. I put them in their case, and as I bring them to the kitchen counter, I see the flowers need watering.

As I pour water in the flowers, and remember that the hose is still running outside. Distracted my this thought, I spill some water.

I set the glass I was using to pour water in the vase in the sink, grab the vase, place it on the kitchen table, then get some paper towels to wipe up the spill.

As I wipe up the spill, I hear that the hose outside is still running. I leave the paper towels to soak up the water and as I head towards the door, I see my coffee cup on the edge of the counter.

At that point, the buzzer goes off on the dryer and I head downstairs towards the laundry room.

Once I reach the bottom of the stairs, I stand there wondering what I came down here for.

At the end of the day:

-The car isn't washed,
-The hose is still running,
-The bills aren't paid,
-There is a cold cup of coffee sitting on the kitchen counter,
-The garden didn’t get watered,
-There is still only 1 cheque in my cheque book,
-I can't find the remote,
-There is a pile of paper towels on the kitchen counter near the coffee pot,
-I can't find my glasses,
-And I don't remember what I did with the car keys.

Then, when asked what I did today, I'm completely baffled. I *know* I was busy but can’t think of what I’ve done, nor do I have anything to show for it~!

I realize this is a serious problem, and so I figure it is best to document what seems to be happening and maybe see of there is away to get some help for this. But first I'll check my e-mail. As I answer/reply/delete the emails, I realize I’m squinting, and need my reading glasses. As I get up to retrieve them, I see my coffee cup is still sitting on the kitchen counter…