Memory Safe #5 Karl and Penelope

For those not riveted to this site for breaking updates -- and by that I mean you -- let me explain the Memory Safe. Whenever I can't remember something I always knew, such as the name of a band, the author of a favorite book, or a college love, I wait until I do remember it and then write a few words about it in this space. It's my way of doing battle with a noticeably deteriorating memory.

I haven't made an entry in awhile -- a good sign -- but I had two in one day this week: Karl Rove and Penelope Cruz. I'm less alarmed about Karl than Cruz. I've had something of a crush on her for years. It's a source of teasing between my wife and I. She has her Russell Crowe. I have my Penelope Cruz. We've given each other special dispensations to take advantage of any opportunity that may arise with these people with the highest confidence that there will be no such opportunities. I saw a woman go by in a car in South Carolina the other day that reminded me of Penelope and I couldn't think of her name. Am I losing that lovin' feeling? Probably not. What I'm losing is my mind.

Taping the show that night in Charleston a joke came to me that included Karl Rove. I had the joke. I had his impish face and that oddly affable presence. I didn't have the name. It finally came to me and I used the joke, but the subject had pretty much moved on by then. The one time I actually needed Karl Rove in my head and...nothing. The joke, if you care, was Karl Rove ordered the Rapture to be cancelled when he realized how bad it was going to be for the Republicans. There. I feel better. But I'm still not over Penelope.