One of the more upsetting parts of aging is forgetting the names of people, places, and things. You know, those nouns that often receive the placeholder “what-cha-ma-call-it” until they float into my head when I stop trying to think of them.

Here’s something else I do remember. In the movie GiGi, which I loved when I was when I was a pre-teen, Maurice Chevalier sang to Hermione Gingold, I Remember it Well.

As we age, nouns become harder to access. Rob Reiner, age 77, joked that he was starting a game show for seniors called “Name That Noun.” I have a friend who records Jeopardy and pauses it to give herself time to recall the answer. She usually knows it but needs a few more seconds than the younger contestants. While my husband and I don’t do that, we are often amazed that very smart younger contestants have no idea about things like the origin of the folk song Marching to Pretoria. Originally, it was sung by British soldiers during the Boer War in the late 19th century as they marched to Pretoria, South Africa. My husband and I immediately began to sing the version made popular by The Weavers in the 1950s, which we both sang in grade school. The contestants were too young to know the song or its origins, although they may have known more about the Boer War than we did.

But even funnier, in the category 40 Years Ago, 1984, when shown a picture of Scott Hamilton winning the Olympic gold medal, a contestant identified him as Mary Lou Retton. So, there’s being very book smart but not old enough to know what happened at the 1984 Olympics, which I remember very well.

Here’s something else I do remember. In the movie GiGi, which I loved when I was when I was a pre-teen, Maurice Chevalier sang to Hermione Gingold, I Remember it Well:

We met at 9
We met at 8
I was on time
No, you were late
Ah yes
I remember it well
We dined with friends
We dined alone
A tenor sang
A baritone
Ah yes
I remember it well
That dazzling April moon
There was none that night
And the month was June
That’s right, that’s right
It warms my heart to know that you
Remember still the way you do
Ah yes
I remember it well
How often I’ve thought of that Friday-
Monday
-Night
When we had our last rendevouz
And somehow I foolishly wondered if you might
By some chance be thinking of it too
That carriage ride
You walked me home
You lost a glove
I lost a comb
Ah yes
I remember it well
That brilliant sky
We had some rain
Those Russian songs
From sunny Spain?
Ah yes
I remember it well
You wore a gown of gold
I was all in blue
Am I getting old?
Oh no, not you
How strong you were
How young and gay
A prince of love in every way
Ah yes
I remember it well

At the time, Chevalier was pushing 70 and Gingold was 61. Not really that old by today’s standards. But to me at the time, they were adorable oldsters and the fact that they couldn’t remember the details of their date was precious. Not so funny when it’s me who can’t remember it well.

Laurie Levy
Boomer. Educator. Advocate. Eclectic topics: grandkids, special needs, values, aging, loss, & whatever. Author: Terribly Strange and Wonderfully Real.

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