The first session of the workshop in prison is designed for introductions. We make up a name for ourselves that contains our first name preceded by an adjective that is spelled with the first letter the same as our first name. I am Gentle George. We go around and take turns repeating all the names before ours and then add our own to the list. It was my turn. I am good at this because I can remember and associate the faces well with the great names that are invented. Except for this time. Of the sixteen men in the room I cannot remember five of them. Total blank. I get rattled by this but play along and accept the help remembering from other participants. Is this the beginning of a new life? The little niggling feeling lingers on for the weekend. It is with me right now. Therefore I scribble it down quickly.
G. M. Goodwin
23 March 2019
UNFAMILIAR
Five out of sixteen is a large sample,
Eleven I got right…five no way,
I stare at the face and see no clue,
He just told me his name,
Same as the rest but I don’t remember,
I have no trigger,
I have no secret picture to recall,
I am dumb, confused by the missing link,
What is his name?
Is this the beginning of the end?
What is wrong with my brain?
Is this what it will be like?
Man…!
G. M. Goodwin
March 22, 2019
Playing Fair and Being Kind 
Oh, George. I can relate so well to this. It is scary. Seven weeks into my semester and I’m still not sure which one is Zoe and which one is Anna. My brain panics every time I have to hand back papers. It might be worse for you though, as you’ve been good at remembering names. I can claim lifelong nominal aphasia. I wonder, though, if you didn’t also panic after it happened with the first guy, making all the rest harder to remember. This might be one of those occasions when a few deep breaths would set things right.
Hope you have a good day. Tracy
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Thanks for reading and replying, Tracy. You are a good friend.
Sixteen names are a lot to remember, George! I’ve been forgetting names since I was in my 20s.
Yeah, but…
Thanks, Arlene. This was a great workshop. We missed you. 🙂
Never been good at names, I concentrate so hard to remember, that I don’t hear what they say!
I concentrate so hard at trying to remember the name, I actually, don’t think I hear it said! SAD!!!