Today is my baby brother's 17th birthday!
I usually forget, but my mum had luckily reminded me a few days ago. It's strange how these sorts of days sneak up on you sometimes, and even stranger to think that my brother is now 17!!! SINCE WHEN, I ASK YOU?!?!?!?!?!
I have a terrible memory for birthdays, as exemplified in an anecdote about getting my brother's SAT scores from the CollegeBoard test services a few years ago. My brother had taken the SATs as a test run one year, and for whatever reason, the results never arrived at our house. What with me being home from college for spring break, my parents decided it would be a good idea to have me call CollegeBoard and request a re-issue of the score.
The ensuing conversation when something like this:
CollegeBoard: Hi, how can I help you?
Claudia: Hi, I'd like to request a re-issue of my brother's SAT score; it seems like it never made it to our house.
CB: Ok; what's your brother's name?
C: [gives brother's name]
CB: His Social Security Number?
C: [holds hand over phone] Moooooooooooooom, what's his SSN?
Mom: It's on the sheet taped to the inside of the pantry door!
C: Ok! [gives SSN]
CB: What's his user ID?
C: uuuuuuuuuh. Don't know that one.
CB: Okay, what about his testing number?
C: uuuuuuuuuh. Don't know that one.
CB: Okay, what about his email address?
C: uuuuuuuuuh. Don't know that one. He changes it too often.
CB: Okay, what about his testing center?
C: uuuuuuuuuh. Don't know that one.
CB: Okay, what address was it supposed to be sent to?
C: uuuuuuuuuuh. [rattles off incorrect address.]....I think.
Mom: That's the wrong address! It's [correct address]
C: Oh. umm. Okay! [gives the correct address]. Sorry, I only come down for college breaks; that's a mashup of my permanent and my college apartment address.
CB: uuuh, that's okay. We're going to need his date of birth?
C: uuuuuuuuuh. It's the 10th of November, 19xx. I think. Either that, or the 11th of November. I always forget, -___-;;
CB: Ma'am, which one is it?
C: uuuuuuuuuh. Moooooooooooooom! Mooooooooom! [mom has mysteriously temporarily disappeared] Daaaaaaaad! What's [brother's] birthday?!
D: uuuh. It's in November.
C: I know that. Is it the 10th or the 11th?
D: The 10th.
C: [to CB] Oh, it's the 10th.
D: ...or the 11th?
C: ....or the 11th.
CB: Ma'am, which one is it?
C: uuuuh....
D: uuuuh....
M: [who by this time has reappeared] IT'S THE XXth!!!
C: Oh, she says it's the XXth! (every time I retell this story, I can't remember the date, :p )
CB: Thank you ma'am. We'll be sending the SAT scores for [brother's full name], [SSN] and [DOB], [testing ID #] to [home address]. Is that correct?
C: uuuh, yes. Thank you.
CB: No problem, ma'am. Have a good day. [hangs up]
C: .... -___-
M: .... -___-
Brother upon my recounting the story to him when he got back home: Why didn't you just wait for me to come home.... -___-
-----
Anyway, what that long anecdote illustrates is that I have terrible memory for birthdates, including my own, but more specifically, for my brother's birthdate. I just remember it's in November, and it's either the day of, or the day before, Veteran's Day. I just can't remember which one it is, is all, -___- ;;;
It's a subject of mild consternation (coupled with bemused exasperation and resignation) from my dear brother, who has perfect memory for all family birthdays, including mine.
In any event, today is my lovely brother's birthday, so HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHOUT-OUT HAIKU TO THE UBER-BROTHER!!!!
-----
As a special two-for-one deal (well, more that I came up with two and ended up posting both on my gtalk status):
Darn it! Foiled again!
I can't eat donuts, >___<
No comments:
Post a Comment