"Could you stop singing, mom?" my kids would whine years ago as I carpooled them to their activities. "You're ruining the song for me." I reminded them that they never once lodged a complaint when I sang them to sleep when they were little, but I knew what they meant. I have a lousy voice -- I get it. As the kids got older, I sang only when I was alone: in the shower, on a run, alone in the car with the windows up.
But in the past few years, I started singing as a mnemonic device. Forget the string around the finger or the pad and paper, my voice became my most important memory tool. I'd head down to the basement, singing an invented tune I dubbed, "Bringing Up The Paper Plates." I'd be in the shower and sing, "Pick up the script at CVS." One day about a year ago, I was in the car and remembered that I had neglected to make an important work phone call that I needed to make from my home office where the papers were.
"Julie, Julie, Julie," I sang out loud on the way home, "Call Julie, Julie!" My "Call Julie" song morphed into "I've got to call Julie Mulie" to the tune of "Mellow Yellow." And it worked. I walked into the house through the mudroom door singing the Julie song and I reminded myself, "Got to call Julie now." And then I walked by the washing machine and saw the wet laundry silently screaming to be moved to the dryer. "I'll call Julie after I switch the laundry," I thought, and I went about that task, humming to the tune of "Mellow Yellow." I never did call Julie.
So, for about a year now, I have been searching for a new memory tool. I needed something that would always be by my side. Something that I could use when I think my most important thoughts -- when I am behind the wheel of a car. Something that would be relentless until my task was completed. And I knew from talking to my friends that I was not alone -- millions of people just like me needed help remembering why they went down the basement. In January, 2012, the "Today" show reported that mental capacity starts to diminish at the average age of 45. I wrote that down as soon as I heard it, and I'm glad I did.
But now I am a new person. I have a new lease on life. I have an iPhone 5. Imagine you, but with more memory. The analogy, SAT style is as follows:
GPS: Directionally Impaired :: iPhone5: Memory Impaired.
When I got my new iPhone, my son showed me the basics of Siri. "Mom, you're going to love this," he said, "it will help with everything." And I do, and he was right. I haven't forgotten anything in weeks.
I tested it out as I was driving:
"Siri, remind me when I get home to call Julie before doing anything else." After a brief exchange with Siri, my reminder was set. Like magic, as I drove into my garage, Siri messaged: "Call Julie before doing anything else." And the best part? Until I manually deleted it on my phone, that message stuck.
I tested it again. "Siri, at 2 p.m., remind me to go down the basement to get paper plates." Perfection. Over the next few days, I was a Siri addict, and she did not fail me- - not once: "Siri, tomorrow at 11 a.m., remind me to visit Bubbie"; "Siri, remind me to do my stretching exercises at 10 p.m."; "Siri, remind me to send Debby a check for the tickets Monday at 9 a.m."
"Siri, remind me not to sing in public."
"OK, I'll remind you to 'Not to sing in public.' When would you like to be re-mind-ed?"
"Ok, here is your reminder starting tomorrow at 8 a.m.. Shall I create it?"
"Ok, I'll start reminding you."
"That's nice, can we get back to work now?"
Isn't that the best? A memory device with a sense of humor!
Read more from Better After 50:
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.