Brain Freeze

A friend on Facebook writes: "Didn't think it would happen--now I am fully vested." Several things came to mind, the first being Rick Santorum and his sweater vests which have become more popular since he started wearing them at campaign events. But knowing that this friend's political leanings do not tend towards the man, I doubt she has run out and purchased a boatload of sleeveless garments, either for herself or her husband. Being of reasonable intelligence--certainly enough to get me this far in life without ever being sued, jailed or publicly flogged--I suspect her statement has something to do with a legal situation regarding her business ventures, of which she has several. But that's all I know, really, and like I said, that's just a suspicion. So if congratulations are in order--and they must be if she posted the news on Facebook--I applaud her achievement, whatever it is.

Every so often I come across a news story or overhear a snatch of conversation that alerts me to the fact that there is so much in the world I know nothing at all about. Like most people, I am stuck in my own head most of the time, replaying the same tapes I got long ago and learning little that is new. I'm not sure how to break out of this trap, but I am open to suggestions. When my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer's back in 1980--she was always ahead of her time--her doctors told me that I should engage in activities that would be brain-stimulating to avoid the same fate. They said the brain was an organ like any other, and the "use it or lose it" rule applied. Soon after her death, I signed up for a Latin course at a nearby university and hoped that would do the trick. It seemed to me that learning a new language would be demanding mentally and learning Latin would allow me to delve into the law, never a desire of mine but just in case the need arose, I'd be ready.

After several incredibly boring three-hour long Saturday morning classes, I decided that completely losing my mind was a more attractive alternative than learning a dead language with a group of unbelievably nerdy adults in a stuffy college classroom, especially when my handsome new husband was waiting for me at home. Very soon after I had a baby and that was that, brain-stimulation-wise. And so now, all these years later, I have no idea what fully vested means. Still, I wish her all the best.