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Ron Allison: Senior moments and serious memories
LAST week I had one of those "senior moments". Truth to tell, I had several, but one in particular sticks with me, as it proved somewhat expensive.
I parked my car in the pay and display area in the centre of Winchester, put the exact money in the machine for a two-hour stay, and walked straight off.
I didn't even press the green button for the ticket, let alone display it in the car. Daft or what?
And, sure enough, when I got back, there was a ticket all right.
Not the one I should have displayed, but the inevitable - and entirely justifiable - package from the warden.
Normally such forgetfulness doesn't cost anything.
At home, it's mildly irritating to have to go back upstairs for something I meant to bring down - even more so to go up only to forget what it was I had failed to remember to take down in the first place.
That's when it is time to take a deep breath or two until sanity returns.
Generally though, it doesn't cost £30!
At least most of my contemporaries seem to have these minor hiccups too and can joke about them, but if the ageing process becomes more serious, it soon ceases to be a laughing matter.
For the individual concerned, for those who care for him or her, and for society generally, it is not funny.
The welfare of our older family members and neighbours cannot be forgotten, and clearly in the years ahead is going to have an ever- increasing impact on all our lives.
But, back to last week. The time of my, shall we say, little lapse, was as the city and the county were preparing to honour the servicemen and women back from active service in Iraq and Afghanistan, as they marched up the High Street from The Guildhall to The Great Hall.
Before the parade I chatted to an octogenarian ex-serviceman proudly wearing the medals marking his service in the Second World War, in his case, mainly in North Africa and the Middle East.
Perhaps from time to time, he misplaces something about his home, but the memories of his years in the army were as accurate and as detailed as if it had all happened yesterday.
Of course, when I said something to that effect, his comment was that if it had been yesterday, he wouldn't have remembered it!
The parade evoked mixed emotions. However, whether or not those taking part should have been sent to the two current war zones is not a debate for this week's column.
What I do believe, though, is that it was right that their service was so splendidly acknowledged on a glorious day in Winchester.
So too, may their colleagues who gave their lives always be duly and truly honoured.
4:40pm Thursday 7th February 2008
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