Re: Mixing Up Directions

[Don Kunz <soonerdon@xxxxxxx>]

Dear Barb,

Barbara Mallut said in part...
>One thing I've noticed within the past year is that I've been "losing" my
car
>when parked in a large "mall-type" parking lot.  I used to have an
outstanding
>sense of direction - almost like having an "inner magnet."  But that "inner
>magnet" has apparently dramatically declined.
>
>At first I'd end up standing alone in a parking lot with a puzzled look on
my
>face, pissed as all get out at myself, the PD, natural effects of aging,
and
>my car (I was sure the darn thing had MOVED) <giggle>.  After having this
>experience a few times and realizing how MUCH I didn't like finding myself
in
>this situation, I made a plan in my mind on how to prevent the
>"car-lost-in-big-parking-lot syndrome."
>
>Now I as I park the car I FORCE myself to mentally take note of the
>relationship of my little red car (not always visible even when I DO recall
>where it's parked)  to any nearby buildings or other unique stationery
>reminder.   Trees all look alike in a parking lot and I learned the HARD
way
>NOT to use nearby cars as pointers 'cause HEY, people HAVE been known to
get
>into their cars and drive off, not knowing how important it was to ME that
>they REMAIN parked next to me so I could find my own car! <LOL>
>
>I used to take it for granted I'd always be able to unerringly walk
straight
>to my car no matter HOW large the parking lot.  Nowadays I congratulate
myself
>and make it a POINT to give myself an "Attaboy," to reinforce the positive
>experience of locating my car in a parking lot.
>It HAS become easier once again to find my car in large parking lots
because
>I'm NOW using my MIND to locate it, rather than my instincts.  And it feels
>GOOD to use my mind.

I have the same problem, remembering where I parked the car or why I entered
a room, etc.  I don't have Parkinson's but I am 63.  I think you are right
about having to use your "GOOD" mind.  Some part of the mind that used to
unthinkingly store short term data seems to wear out.  I also find that I
have to deliberately file the information about the car in the parking lot.

                                                                    Don Kunz

soonerdon@xxxxxxx
P.S.  I was a navigotor in the Air Force for years before being replaced by
a black box.  I never got lost, except maybe once over the north pole.  [Now
where did I put that pencil?]