Off the Mark by Mark Parisi for November 14, 2016

Yes, but does she remember which birthday goes with which person?

I wish my grandmothers had been like that. One was guaranteed to remember months late—we often were given Christmas cards in February or March!

Why can’t she remember where she left her knitting?

if like my grandmother – knows the birthdays because it is written on the calendar, but has no idea of the ages

I’m a bad grandma. I don’t even have the birthdays written down…

She can remember their birthdays, but can she call one by their name without saying the entire list first? THAT would be a super power.

My mother could remember few birthdays of her grand- and great-grandchildren without writing them down. Usually those born on someone else’s birthday and “holidays,” such as July 4th, Groundhog’s Day and St. Patrick’s Day. And some names she would get wrong, such as calling Nathan Nathaniel. But when you have close to ninety of them … And that’s not counting the great-great-grandchildren (currently at twelve and two more on the way).

I have four grandkids – easy peasy!

At my age, I’m lucky I can remember my own birthday. - Actually I doubt anyone remembers his / her birthday. Those things that come around every year are technically anniversaries. But if you are celebrating one of them today, then Happy Birthday!

Sha-zam! She’s Grandma! And don’t you forget it!!

This is good, yes?

I’d say this is on the mark. Especially among the very young.

Am I a bad person when I see the “Let so-and-so know you’re thinking about them on their birthday” email, and I delete it, saying to myself “I wasn’t thinking about so-and-so…”

I am different, I am trying to get people to forget my birthday. Every birthday I realize how short the rest of my life is and I do not want to know.

But the worst part is, even if you wish someone remembering their date, they’d assume you got the date from the facebook. We’re cruising towards plastic life style.