Othersideofmyhead.com

Like a car, or the eye, the brain is also capable of experiencing what is commonly known as a blindspot, an obstruction of thought brought on by everyday distractions.

Blindspots on short term memory are more prevalent than long term. For example, you arise one morning craving an omelet. You walk into the kitchen, open the fridge and, gasp, all the eggs are all gone. Since you cannot think of a tastier breakfast alternative, you throw on some shoes, a coat, and drive to the nearest store.

Once in the store, you grab a shopping basket and proceed to make the long walk to the dairy aisle. As you move, your eyes focus on other needed items that you place lovingly into the basket. After debating whether $1.29 for a bottle of ketchup is a good deal or not, and stopping to glance through the pages of a cheesy celebrity magazine, you proceed to the checkout. After cashing out, you drive home, put the groceries away, then move on to make your well deserved and highly desired omelet.

Only you forgot to get the eggs.

But what about blindspots on the long term? And onto example #2.

A few weeks ago, I signed onto AOL Instant Messenger and was immediately bombarded with the follow message:

“Emily__ wants to send you a message, will you accept?”

Emily? Emily who? I do not know of anyone named Emily. Since I do not give my screen name to just anybody, I rejected and banned Emily__ from ever contacting me again.

The next evening, my sister Erika called to chat. She was lamenting about how our 14 year old sister is always on the computer, talking to her friends via IM.

“Instant Messenger eh?” I said. “What is her screen name, I’ll send her a message.”

“It's Emily__”

Oh, thaaaat’s right. I have a Sister named Emily.

Alas, my attempts to dig up significant psychological references to back up my post and make me look like less of a dodo bird, were futile.