Since the devastating fires in our area there has been an outbreak of a heretofore unknown malady. Now, I'm not a doctor, nor have I played one on TV, but in all humility, I am the first to diagnose this new condition. It has been observable in conversations on walks around the neighborhood and, of course, in our own household. It is fire brain.
First observed when we would be doing something important, like packing to evacuate, and forgetting to take the most basic and obvious items with us. In M's case, we were already miles from home and he realized he forgot his wallet. Something he has NEVER forgotten EVER. And yes, he drove back through smoke and ash to retrieve it from home. In our haste, I forgot to pack our and our dogs' medications -- even though they were on the list prepared for just such an eventuality. Didn't discover that bit until we were safely ensconced in the shelter and were not going back home. OK, you're thinking, understandable, you were in a rush to leave and it happens. Others in the shelter had experienced the same thing. Alas, the syndrome doesn't end with returning home.
In our shock and realization of all the cleanup required, our determination to be better organized for future catastrophes, and trying to be grownups navigating the necessary hoops to get things repaired and done, we found our brains short circuiting regularly. Put something down and can't find it even though it is right in front of us. Make a to do list and forget to check it. Promise to finish something and get so distracted we don't even remember the promise. Fire brain in action. And lest you think we are old and that is simply a symptom, I assure you that we weren't THAT bad prior to the fire. Not only that, younger people in the area are complaining of the same symptoms. Needless to say, the symptoms should wear off as things return to semi-normal, but one can never tell with these new outbreaks of interesting conditions. May you never have to experience it.
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