DEAR ABBY: I am 70 and consider my mental faculties to be normal. One aging issue my wife and I have noticed is that I tend to repeat stories to our children, grandchildren and friends. Our children can be less than forgiving toward this old boomer as they deliver a comment like, “Yeah, we’ve already heard about that,” sometimes in a rude or caustic tone.
We think this phenomenon is common to a lot of people our age. I have started prefacing my stories with “Did I tell you about …” before talking. They could be nicer by saying early on in the story: “Yes, Dad, you’ve told that story. Is anything new?” What does Dear Abby think? — RECOLLECTIONS ON REPEAT
DEAR RECOLLECTIONS: I agree that your family and friends could be more polite when they point out that they’ve “heard this one before.” However, if you find people are interrupting your “greatest hits” too often, it’s time to mention it to your doctor.
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