Remember Mad Libs? Here we go.

1) Singular Noun __________

2) Name__________

3) Adjective __________

Remember that time you ate a _singular noun_?

Remember that time you and _name_ did that thing that you’re not allowed to talk about?

Remember that time you got a little crazy and ended up _adjective_ on your neighbor’s lawn?

Remember Happy Hour with Toni Ferrara? I vaguely remember it being great; but let’s just say that after the Julep and the Cosmo, I took a cab to the theater and saw EITHER Sex and the City 2 or Shrek 4. I can’t remember, and plus, you never know with CGI these days.

If you’re like me, you had trouble just remembering which words you chose for the blanks. So, in honor of Memorial Day, this Fitness Friday is all about keeping your memory fit. Get it?

-Play mind games—not just the fun kind that get people to do what you want, but also the kind that stimulate your brain. Games like Sudoku actually increase brain activity; it’s a mental work out. If you really want to push yourself, try writing the numbers with the wrong hand. That’ll really get your synapses firing.

-Exercise. I could tell; you were all, “There he goes with his loose interpretation of the word ‘Fitness’.” Not this time. I’ve mentioned before that exercise, especially cardio, improves circulation and can reduce stress levels (you probably don’t remember, though). Well, the improved circulation delivers more oxygen to your brain, and it turns out that oxygen is good. It makes your brain more efficient at filing stuff away for you to recall later.

-Drink up. Now, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, so feel free to kick back and relax with a glass of wine. Conveniently, alcohol—in moderation—helps improve memory function. Obviously, too much will have the opposite effect and you’ll end up _adjective_ on the lawn sharing a _singular noun_ with _name_ and you won’t even remember why.

On a serious note, don’t forget to remember the brave men and women who gave their lives serving our country. Whoa okay. That’s about as long as I can stay serious. Have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Richy T.—forget me not; I’ll be back next week.