It seems I have been continuing in my earlier path of getting somewhat discombobulated when faced with recalling data from time to time. In case you're wondering, that's a funny way of saying that I was recently confused, bewildered and baffled by my own brain. While that's not as uncommon as I would like to believe, it seems that things can tend to pop up that surprise even me.

I've been told confusion and forgetfulness be a sign of aging, but I can't remember where I heard that. I remember being forgetful earlier in life, but my mother always said that was because I tended to be "self-absorbed." This condition is best defined by one who answers and then asks what the question was, one who bumps into things while walking and looking at something else and also as one who forgets to do things after accidentally getting engrossed in some other happening.

This only intensified when I left my parents' home, since I then slept little, studied everything but books and found a myriad of ways to get into trouble of one sort or another. Yes, I could better understand being forgetful then, while charging through life on a hormone-induced, youthful rampage.

But things have changed. In my defense, I did stay up very late Friday night for a church youth function, but surely the effects of too little sleep would have worn off by Sunday.

Since sleep deprivation might be a legitimate excuse, I think I will choose to cling tightly to that explanation. Come to think of it, it really doesn't matter what you've forgotten, especially if you can't remember what it was anyway.

For instance, in writing this, I realize that I blathered on about a similar topic just a few months ago. Since I don't remember much of what I said, I'll just hope none of you do, either.

I do know if I was a computer, I'd be due for either scrapping or an upgrade. Too bad I can't just pop in a couple of new chips and a logic board and be done with it. It's likely that even then I'd be told by the sales clerk that memory upgrades aren't available for this old a model.

What brought all this on? Well, a few weeks ago, I was in a hurry to get some cash for a trip to a local restaurant. I stopped by the bank's ATM and I couldn't remember the PIN number to my credit card. In case you're wondering, PIN stands for "personal identification number" or "pain in the neck" if you can't remember it.

After that first instance, I used the card a time or two, including possibly punching in the PIN at the grocery store, but I can't be sure. Why? Because I can't remember, of course.

This latest incident took place on a Sunday afternoon. The sun was shining and I pulled up to the ATM machine at the bank. Then I looked over at the screen, popped in my card and...nothing. I drew a mental blank from that point forward. Whatever the reason, the PIN from my own credit card simply would not pop into my mind as it should have.

This is a card that I have used for several years. As I said earlier, it accesses my checking account, so I've used the PIN at grocery stores, convenience stores and gas stations, restaurants and ATM machines. This isn't a story about someone who forgot the PIN of a brand new card or something.

However, I can say that this odd assortment of numbers was furnished by the bank and not entered by me. Was it 5460 or 5640? Could it have been 4650? I punched in all three numbers before surrendering to the notion that success wasn't likely. However, after trying another number on a whim, which may have been on of the three I'd already entered, I knew I wasn't going to win. The machine informed me that my card had been "deactivated" and that I should "contact my financial institution."

Wow, talk about a penalty for being forgetful, I thought. In case you're wondering, I don't mind publishing my PIN in the newspaper, since none of them seem to work anyway. All that would really do is serve to frustrate a would-be financial criminal. If I can't get cash out of the account myself, how could anyone else figure it out?

At any rate, the bank usually advises against using familiar numbers for PIN numbers, for obvious security reasons. Someone told me that a good number of people use their birthrate for a PIN number, but that makes it too easy for thieves to enter the numbers after stealing a pocketbook or wallet. Some people even write the number on the back of the card.

It's easy to make fun of folks for such obvious breaches of security. It's almost like using "password" for your password or typing in the same thing twice for a user name and password.

However, those folks who use some combination of familiar numbers for a PIN are looking smarter all the time. At least they aren't scratching their heads outside the bank trying to remember their PIN number or calling their banking professional to admit the fact that they inadvertently deactivated their card.

Those who write it on the back of the card would need to remember to read it before sticking it in the machine, but that shouldn't be nearly so difficult as coming up with numbers out of thin air.

After admitting my defeat, I finally ended up driving home to get another card, one for which I could remember the number.

By the time I made my second trip into town, I was having some self image problems.

I subsequently called the bank Monday and a representative "reactivated" my card and changed my PIN to one I could remember. Or at least I hope I can remember it.

Subsequently, I was in need of a little family solace and understanding. After explaining what happened, I was told, "Don't worry, you probably won't remember any of this in a few days anyway."