Why the Memory Lapse

Do you have memory lapses like I do? When I'm atmind. Many a time I have to go through a routine of
work (I'm an engineer), I could be fitting parts to aretracing my steps one by one until I find the place I
machine and will put a spanner, screwdriver or somehave mislaid my tools.
type of engineering tool down whilst I go and checkWhat I don't quite get with this memory problem is
for parts or check some paperwork, then, when Ithe things I can remember from years ago. As far
come back to carry on with the job in hand, guessback as being a child of five when I can remember
what? Yes, the tool I have just been using hasreceiving kids wooden toys as birthday presents off
miraculously disappeared or somebody must havemy mum and dad. Or the time I went with my mum
borrowed it, it's got nothing to do with me forgettingto where she worked and played on a child's wooden
where I have mislaid it, but unfortunately it has,rocking horse with her employees children.
because, within those few minutes of going off andMaybe playing with these natural wooden toys is a
doing another task I have forgotten where I put ithappy memory, so I remember them a lot more than
down.The peculiar thing is, a lot of the time I findthe mundane day to day routines we all have to
those tools in the place I have had to go to do theendure as adults. There are certainly lots of good
other part of my job.memories from my childhood, from the games I
Forgetfulness seems to creep up on us all, or is itwould play with my friends to the worlds I would
there is so much to do and remember in this fastvisit in my imagination whilst playing with those
paced society of ours we don't pay as muchchildrens wooden toys.
attention to what we are doing at the time? ThenWell at least I have memories from the past to keep
when we come back to the original task the lastme upbeat through the times that I may have a
thing you were doing has completely gone from yourmemory lapse.