Everyone has experienced déjà vu, that feeling that the moment you’re in already happened. It’s so remarkable that when it does happen, we tend to announce, “Oh, déjà vu!” Our companions then shiver with vicarious thrill at the mystery of it.
When someone forgets that they’ve told you a story, and you are subjected to a re-telling, a real déjà vu, there is no accompanying thrill. If it’s the first time, it might take a while before you recognize it, in which case you’re likely to be polite and hear the speaker out. Your patience, however, will grow thinner with each subsequent re-telling. And when I say “your” I mean mine, and yes, I am projecting unapologetically.
I admit that I like attention, but I’m also easily embarrassed, so I police my own behavior accordingly. If I start to tell a story, and someone says, “Yes, you’ve told me,” I stop, blush, and apologize. As a matter of fact, I’ll often start with, “If I’ve told you this, stop me,” rather than risk embarrassing myself. In person, this is easily dealt with, but not on my blog.
Last week, while writing about how George Harrison was my Beatle, I experienced déjà vu, convinced that I’d written those exact words before. I reviewed old blogs and didn’t turn up anything. If it wasn’t a blog post, it must be something else. I searched my hard drive – still nothing. Why was I so nervous?
I’d already written about my lousy memory. Worse, I wrote about the same subject twice, once in late 2010, and again in September of 2011. When I realized that I’d done that, I waited nervously for you to point it out. But you never did. There could be any number of reasons for that; you don’t actually read my blog; your memory is bad, too; you didn’t want to embarrass me. If it was the latter, I appreciate your kindness, but the fact that you never said anything didn’t actually make it any less humiliating because I am my own worst enemy.
It was only a matter of time before I confessed that I’d written about the same subject twice. That’s what I do. I have to point out my mistake before I can forgive myself. Hey, that’s a good idea for a post. Except you might think, since I just mentioned it, that I’d already written all you need to read about my need to confess. I wouldn’t want to bore you by telling you again. What will happen to my blog when I’ve told you all my stories? Will you be polite and keep reading, or will you wander away? I mean, in person, this is easy to deal with, but on my blog it’s harder. Have I told you that before? Oh no, déjà vu…
Everywhere I Go 
I believe in marketing we have an expression….”repetition, repetition, repetition.” (i.e. taglines and boiler plates). And another great PR phrase, “We meant to to do that!” (even if we didn’t.) And another word, “spin.” So you loved George Harrison….you’re just doing some post-humus marketing for your old crush, and a great musician. No need to apologize. 🙂
Ah yes, tell them what you want them to know, tell them what you told them, and then… I forget the third part! But thanks for reminding me.
Judy, unless you stay home and become a hermit, never watch another show on television or stop listening to the radio, you will never run out of things to write about. If you feel a little blocked all you have to do is head to a nearby restaurant, coffee shop or mall and use “Normans Hernia” I think that is what your use to all it. Worry not my friend you will find endless things to write about….
Ahh… Thank you so much for the vote of confidence, and the great idea for my next post – Norman’s Hernia it is! You go girl!
You can count on me, as you know, to religiously point out any perceived shortcomings in your posts…after all what are friends for? (I forgot.)
You’re a rock, Bill. 🙂
I think it was Groucho Marx who said “If you’ve heard this one before, please don’t stop me. I’d like to hear it again.”
I LOVE that! Thank you so much! I can’t wait to use it. Now, who can I call…
I write about the same things all the time in my blog. No one has said ‘you already wrote about that’ yet so I figure if I can’t remember it, neither can they. Besides, what would we watch on TV if we didn’t have reruns to watch the ones we forgot about again?
Reruns! That’s a great spin, thanks!
You make me laugh, Judy…especially the part: “When I realized that I’d done that, I waited nervously for you to point it out. But you never did. There could be any number of reasons for that; you don’t actually read my blog; your memory is bad, too; you didn’t want to embarrass me.”
I forget myself all the time and I do repeat myself with my husband and friends. I’m not too sure about my blog though…now I’ve got to check!
I love making you laugh!
Judy, now that you mention it I seem to remember you sending me about 17 different versions of the same memo over the course of two weeks. My admin person was sure it was all code and accused me of being a covert operative. She was, of course, correct but not because of your memos; and, still, I had to report that my cover was blown and I didn’t have to do that crap anymore. So, go ahead, tell your stories as often as you wish – God only knows what other weirdness will follow.
Now, now. People who don’t know you won’t know you’re joking. Time to adjust your meds?
How did you know about the meds?
OK, so I exaggerated a little – maybe there were only 13 look alike memos.
Off to the (locked) medicine cabinet – yeeHah.