Dear Barb, Barbara Mallut said in part... >One thing I've noticed within the past year is that I've been "losing" my car >when parked in a large "mall-type" parking lot. I used to have an outstanding >sense of direction - almost like having an "inner magnet." But that "inner >magnet" has apparently dramatically declined. > >At first I'd end up standing alone in a parking lot with a puzzled look on my >face, pissed as all get out at myself, the PD, natural effects of aging, and >my car (I was sure the darn thing had MOVED) <giggle>. After having this >experience a few times and realizing how MUCH I didn't like finding myself in >this situation, I made a plan in my mind on how to prevent the >"car-lost-in-big-parking-lot syndrome." > >Now I as I park the car I FORCE myself to mentally take note of the >relationship of my little red car (not always visible even when I DO recall >where it's parked) to any nearby buildings or other unique stationery >reminder. Trees all look alike in a parking lot and I learned the HARD way >NOT to use nearby cars as pointers 'cause HEY, people HAVE been known to get >into their cars and drive off, not knowing how important it was to ME that >they REMAIN parked next to me so I could find my own car! <LOL> > >I used to take it for granted I'd always be able to unerringly walk straight >to my car no matter HOW large the parking lot. Nowadays I congratulate myself >and make it a POINT to give myself an "Attaboy," to reinforce the positive >experience of locating my car in a parking lot. >It HAS become easier once again to find my car in large parking lots because >I'm NOW using my MIND to locate it, rather than my instincts. And it feels >GOOD to use my mind. I have the same problem, remembering where I parked the car or why I entered a room, etc. I don't have Parkinson's but I am 63. I think you are right about having to use your "GOOD" mind. Some part of the mind that used to unthinkingly store short term data seems to wear out. I also find that I have to deliberately file the information about the car in the parking lot. Don Kunz [log in to unmask] P.S. I was a navigotor in the Air Force for years before being replaced by a black box. I never got lost, except maybe once over the north pole. [Now where did I put that pencil?]