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In May of 1974, I took a trip to Israel, Greece and London with my parents and one of my sisters. I was in sixth grade at the time. Prior to our departure, I gave my parents a hard time about making me go on a trip during the school year. I was unhappy about missing two weeks of school and having to make up all that homework.
I’d collected my assignments for the upcoming two weeks from all my teachers with the exception of my social studies teacher, Mr. Reiss. At the end of my last day of school before the trip, I stood in line to see him at his desk. As his conference with the student in front of me dragged on and on, I got concerned that I would miss my bus. I eventually left just in time to catch the bus for the 45-minute ride home.
When I returned to school two weeks later, some kids on the bus told me that Mr. Reiss had gone ballistic when he realized I hadn’t picked up my assignments. He angrily told the class he was going to make me copy the entire textbook by hand. When I did meet with him, my consequences were only slightly less severe. He told me that I had to memorize the textbook glossary, which consisted of 104 items. I would then stand up before the class and the students could ask me to define any word they selected from the glossary. My grade would be the percentage I got correct. It was clear to me that his goal was to embarrass me in front of my classmates.
As you might imagine, public humiliation was a huge fear for that somewhat timid middle-school boy. Armed with a high level of motivation and a good memory, I buckled down to the task at hand. I enlisted my parents’ help over the weekend to learn the glossary definitions, having them drill me repeatedly. In all, I spent about six hours to feel confident that I was ready.
The next week, as promised, I was called up to the front of the classroom for the big performance. In my mind, I can imagine Mr. Reiss’s smug face as he waited for me to publicly implode. A girl was appointed to tally my correct and incorrect responses on the front blackboard. I called on a student with their hand raised and was given my first word to define. My response exactly matched the textbook definition. After I got the first several definitions correct, I relaxed a bit and even began to enjoy the activity. In the end, I defined 13 words in a row perfectly before Mr. Reiss called off the exercise.
It was clear that Mr. Reiss was frustrated by my success. He asked me how long it took me to memorize the glossary and I said about six hours. He then told the class that if I could do it, they would all have to do it.
The next day, Mr. Reiss came into class and apologized for losing his temper. No, everyone would not have to memorize the glossary. I think he even specifically apologized to me. For whatever reason, after a night’s reflection, he felt chastised. This was Mr. Reiss’s first year teaching school, and it turned out to be his last. He didn’t return the following year. We spotted him delivering milk near the school.
My long-term memory has always been strong and remains so to this day. One of the reasons I enjoy sharing stories from my past is because I harbor such vivid memories of certain incidents that occurred decades ago. My short-term memory is fine, but it’s nothing like it was when I was 11 years old, standing with my back against a blackboard.
My mother started showing signs of dementia at around age 80. Her mild symptoms progressed rapidly and she spent almost a decade living with significant cognitive impairment. She sometimes thought I was her late brother. Both of Mom’s parents also suffered from dementia in their 80s and 90s. In contrast, my father had no signs of cognitive impairment when he passed away shortly before his 84th birthday. I don’t know which genetic hand I’ve been dealt. Dementia is not something I spend much time worrying about, but I have to acknowledge there’s potential for it to be in my future, should I live long enough. The memories I rely on and am so fond of recalling may become inaccessible.
I have a strong intolerance to chocolate. Eating just a single M&M candy piece will precipitate a migraine headache the next day. I joke with my kids that if I ever lose my marbles, they need to remember to make sure my caregivers never give me chocolate. I can imagine becoming a problem patient like clockwork each time I’m served chocolate pudding for dessert.
An engrossing and helpful book I read during my mother’s journey with dementia is The Forgetting by David Shenk. I recommend it to those who are interested in exploring this topic.
Dementia risks aside, keeping my mind active is important to me in retirement. Here are some things I do to keep my brain muscles toned up:
Daily Word Games. I play the New York Times’ Wordle and Connections games every day.
Working Part Time. Though I’ve retired, I feel like I’m still at the top of my game in my profession. My current part-time position gives me the chance to still contribute and provides an appropriate level of mental challenge. Positive feedback I receive provides reassurance that my brain is still hitting on all cylinders.
Writing. Writing articles like this one for HumbleDollar keeps my mind stimulated and my brain engaged. I recently wrote an article for my high school’s alumni newsletter, which was fun. I’ll probably seek out other writing opportunities as my retirement progresses.
Volunteer Work. My wife and I teach the 2nd and 3rd grade Sunday School class at our church. We have over 20 lively, engaged youngsters in our class this year. Teaching kids imposes unique requirements on my brain.
Exercise. As I’ve written about before, getting exercise has become a priority for me over the past several years. There’s a significant connection between exercise and brain functioning. A book that explores this topic in detail is Spark: The Revolutionary New Science of Exercise and the Brain by John Ratey.
How about you? If retired, are you making it a priority to keep your mind sharp and your memory functioning? What activities do you engage in to help in this regard?
I’m 68 and have been retried two and a half years. I’ve found to keep sharp I have to exercise regularly, get enough sleep, don’t eat anything before going to bed, try to go to sleep at the same time every night and the biggest, stop looking at any kind of electronic screen at least three hours before going to bed. The blue light is bad for sleep. That means no smartphone, no tv and no computer. The results of doing that(when I can, they are such temptation) are just amazing. My eyesight and hearing get better, my time sense slows down, and my thoughts are as clear as a bell. It also helps that I have never been a smoker or a drinker.
I also read a lot (18 books on investing, including Johnathan’s, also Bible reading) and I try to do, or attempt to do, new new things. Last summer I did a double head gasket repair on my van(308K miles) and this year I had a solar panel system installed on my house. Back in June, I finally did a three day trip I had been thinking about for years. Milwaukee up to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum on the shore of Lake Superior, across the Mackinac Bridge, down the west side of lower Michigan, then the Lake Express high speed car ferry across Lake Michigan back to Milwaukee.
It’s also important get out of the house and be around people. I try to go to every family gettogether and church activity I can and I never turn down a lunch date. Being single, loneliness can creep up, and that can suck the energy out of you so slowly you won’t even notice.
Nice post, Nuke Ken. I think I have found the perfect retirement activity for me that checks all the boxes above. I started coaching high school football at a small, rural, school this fall. It keeps me intellectually and physically engaged, and serves the young men of the community.
Good article. Thanks Ken.
Since retirement 14 years ago, I have done a variety of things that interest me and I believe help keep my mind sharp. I am on the board of 2 retiree organizations, participate in ministries at my church and have done a number of presentations to large groups.
All of that is stimulating to the mind, and I do not believe I am slipping, although I might be the last to know. lol.
I am also physically active with walking, golf and exercises. I do not drink and try to eat a healthy diet, although I do have a sweet tooth.
My mother died at 89 and was mentally sharp up to the end. She had a phobia that resulted in a mental health evaluation at age 88. She aced the cognitive test and was their star patient.
I just turned 80, an age I never thought I would reach. The odds of cognitive impairment increase dramatically at this age. However, I feel very blessed with my situation, and look forward to tomorrow.
Jerry, thanks for reading and commenting. You’re doing great and your attitude as stated in the last sentence is undoubtedly part of the reason.
Nice article Ken. I don’t have an anecdote to share so I’ll break with the comment pattern and answer your question. 🙂
I can’t say I’m making “staying sharp” a priority but probably should. While my memory is already not great, I otherwise feel sharp, but that’s the eye of the beholder, and it is a concern.
Occasionally I think about dusting off a foreign language I was once good at. A lot of work getting went into getting as good as I was at one time, and I regret not keeping it up. But really I have no burning desire to use it again, so it doesn’t really seem worth the effort. Languages are something I enjoy though, so I could always try a new one, or take one I’m still good at and make it even better.
I do exercise, not specifically to keep my brain healthy but fortunately it does have that benefit. I’ll add that I think there’s a particular benefit in practicing new physical skills, not just cranking out reps or treadmill steps.
If I weren’t nomadic I might take a(nother) crack at a musical instrument. Right now I’m not going to carry around anything bigger than a harmonica (or a kazoo?).
I suppose our lifestyle is a bit of a part time job, constantly making decisions about what’s next and how to do it.
Thanks for the topic.
Michael, thanks for your comments. I’ve considered trying to learn a language. I studied Latin in high school, but I don’t see much value in trying to relearn a “dead” language. I’ve often thought I’d like to know Spanish, especially when listening to my shortwave radios. Probably too much effort for the hoped-for benefit.
My saxophone has been silent for 50 years and will remain so. I found out early my only musical ability is listening.
I have a daughter, daughter-in-law and a couple of nieces who are teachers.
In the past, at family gatherings, they’ve mentioned that parents taking their kids out of school for travel and vacations is, now, pretty typical.
Things sure have changed since we were kids.
This happened 62 years ago but is still a clear memory. I remember bringing an eastern newt to my 4th grade class for show and tell. I’d captured the newt, an amphibian, in a local pond. The teacher had spent the year telling me I was lazy and messy. During show and tell, the teacher decided to ask the class if it was a newt or something else. She lead a class discussion to a group decision that I’d actually brought in a skink. I said they were wrong because a skink is a lizard (reptile) and would not have been in the pond. Luckily it was close to the end of the school year and my family moved that year. I never had to experience that lady again.
Thank you, Ken, for the book recommendation about dementia. We are going through what you went through with your mother now with a family member. Every time we visit we notice a change. We are not sure when it will be time to step in. So far they seem to be safe in their home, but it is frustrating that we are 4 hours away and know the time is coming. Chris
Nice post, Ken. There’s much complaining today about how folks have to be super-careful to treat others in the workplace and at educational institutions with respect. But the start of your story is a reminder of why we’ve ended up where we have. I recall appalling behavior by my school teachers and by my early bosses — screaming at the top of their lungs, and publicly humiliating students and employees. I’m sure many women and minorities experienced far worse.
If you don’t like where we’ve ended up today, blame the behavior of those who held positions of authority three and more decades ago. I find “political correctness” a bit suffocating and tedious. But I have no desire to go back to the “good old days.”
I think things like political correctness and regulations are what we mere mortals come up with to protect ourselves from each other. We wouldn’t need a law against murder if nobody ever killed anyone.
James Madison made a similar observation: “If men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
It’s interesting that as I was reading the article I was thinking that since the teacher’s subject was social studies he was going to ask Ken to prepare a 5 minute presentation on what he learned about the culture in each country he visited. But I guess nowadays some would think that is too soft, or politically correct. I’d call it a great learning experience though.
Your use of the term “political correctness” here demonstrates a misunderstanding of the term. There’s nothing “soft” about PC. It’s an attempt to institutionalize an ideology that is often mean and intolerant of other’s values, race, religion, sex, etc.
Actually, one of my other teachers did do something like that. Rather than have me make up for missed classwork, his only assignment was for me to put together a report on my trip. I wrote a bit about what we did each day and added postcards. I still have that report. I think he also had me share with the class about my experience, but my memory is not as clear on that point.
I had the same thought. What a missed opportunity that was for the teacher and students.
Wow, I guess I’m fortunate not having such memories. I remember all my teachers with great fondness. I still have the autograph books they signed when I graduated junior high and high school. Many kinds words of motivation.
Never had a screaming boss either. A couple stabbed me in the back, but at least quietly.
When I first stated work at 18 I was in a union and had struggled understanding union work rules like stopping work fifteen minutes early and just standing by the time clock waiting – they called it clean up time.
Once, when the shop steward caught me still working he didn’t yell. He put his arm around me and quietly said, “kid, let me tell you how it works around here.” I got the message.
Six months later I was being laid off and the union got me a new non-union job with the company – the start of a 50 year career.
Years later I was negotiating employee benefits on behalf of the company with the same union. I never forgot what the union did for me when they had no reason to. I attempted to return the favor.