Parapraxism

Why is it that sometimes I have trouble remembering my own phone number? It's a little embarassing, especially whenever I'm having to fill out a form in front of someone, and I have to stop and think: What's my phone number?

"New phone number?" They'll ask when I finally fill it in, sometimes after a long wait.

"Nope," I'll say. "Had it for almost five years."

But what's more: Why is it that when I'm trying to remember my phone number, I can't remember the number, but I can remember that this particular type of memory lapse is called a parapraxism?

Or how come I can remember my friend Lance's phone number from second grade, one which I haven't called for more than 14 years, but not my own present phone number?

Other important numbers I can remember, all the while being unable to remember my own phone number:

--About 15 to 20 different numbers of friends all through grade school, high school and college, none of which I have called any time in the past 5 years.

--the phone number for the Pizza Hut in Athens, TN.

--The number combination to my locker in high school, and also the combination from my gym locker.

--Also the P.O. Box combination from the box I had as a full time student over at MTSU.

--Also, the 900 number that was World Championship Wrestling's 900-number hotline.

--My MTSU phone system long distance network code.

--The number for all three movie theaters in Athens TN (including the Drive-In)

--My phone number I had when I lived in the dorm.

I can think of all these numbers, all of them, more quickly than I can think of my own phone number.

So I've taken to safety pinning my phone number on my shirt when I go to job interviews, just so I'll have that information on hand.

And that's what's on my mind today.