Much boob~ma, Susan.

Dcp is me, except I have never had a memory, so that's just how I've coped my entire adult life.

Same. I have always had brain like sieve so I learned early on to write everything down. Computers were a lifesaver for me. My calendar is extensive. My work Knowledge Base has over a thousand entries because every time I figure something out I create another article because I won't remember next time.

Brendon had a photographic memory. When I first met him in college I was blown away by how he only had to hear something or read it once, and it was there verbatim forever. This is no longer the case and he has no idea how to cope because he never developed the skills. I told him his memory banks were filled so he had to start writing notes. My son has the same ability and I have tried to warn him it isn't forever.

Two days from now I get a -t!! Be jealous. I’m sure we will remember to take at least one selfie.

I am jealous! Enjoy the visit and the festivities!

Thinking of Susan's boobs. Hey! She told me I could.

Also, Hi Bev!

Headed in my sib's direction later today for some of the weekend. Have to take my sister to the doctor tomorrow morning, and celebrate my brother's birthday. He rolled over to my age again a few days ago. The back for the Superbowl party Sunday. Not at my house for a change. Off to my BIL's BIL's home. This is cool because I missed going there on Christmas when I had Covid.

Yogurt:

I applied for Social Security! I turn 70 in 2 weeks. After 55 years or so of contributing it is about time.

I don’t have any coping mechanisms for not remembering anything, because I could always remember everything. And people are relying on me.

I have been reading a lot lately on how high-masking smart neurodivergent women just FALL THE FUCK APART during perimenopause because all of the coping mechanisms we've been using since puberty were built on a foundation of mostly reliable hormone levels, which, as it turns out, were pretty important for day-to-day functioning.

Shir, there is a nonzero change I will be on a mandatory business trip to China while you are in the US, and if that happens I will be so MONUMENTALLY pissed at the entire universe. (There is also a nonzero chance this trip will fail to come together because the people planning it didn't account for my team being there and now we don't really fit into the agenda? So there is hope!)

I have been reading a lot lately on how high-masking smart neurodivergent women just FALL THE FUCK APART during perimenopause because all of the coping mechanisms we've been using since puberty were built on a foundation of mostly reliable hormone levels, which, as it turns out, were pretty important for day-to-day functioning.

Huh. Well, that explains a lot. Knowing that may help with Operation Pull Myself Together...

Cannot think about vacation just yet, pouring a lot of effort into staying in work mode for the next 7 hours or so...

(I mean, probably neurotypical women also have a shitty time during perimenopause because it basically sucks? But I've been deep into a "would the squirrels in charge of my brain be better behaved this year if I had sought diagnosis/support in, like, high school when it might have actually helped?" rabbit hole lately, so, yeah. Maybe I should get the squirrels out of the rabbit hole, just as a starting point.)

Squirrels do love rabbit holes

I have been reading a lot lately on how high-masking smart neurodivergent women just FALL THE FUCK APART during perimenopause because all of the coping mechanisms we've been using since puberty were built on a foundation of mostly reliable hormone levels, which, as it turns out, were pretty important for day-to-day functioning.

Seriously, just @ me next time.

The thing that has helped my fuzzy memory the most is writing EVERYTHING down. I have two different magnetic notebooks (the pages are edged with iron ink and can be removed and reorganized as needed); one for work, one for personal life. Lists and things written in an app or something just slide off my memory, I need the muscle memory of writing things down.

When I hit menopause, not only did my (previously excellent) memory fail me, but my emotions were all over the place - mostly angry. And I was having hot flashes in an overheated office, which did nothing to help.

It will calm down. Really.

I have to write down anything important, or else it's lost through the perimenopause sieve of my brain forever.