The picture for National Memo Day shows us sticky notes, but memorandums come in all forms these days; texts, notes and e-mails. I don’t think phone calls count as the idea behind a memo is it is written down. I use memos constantly, but they are for myself. I have a grocery list, a to-do list and index cards with ideas for stories to write. When you get my age it’s necessary or too many things get forgotten. I also still keep a hand written calendar of appointments so I know where I am supposed to be on a given day. I’m told my phone can tell me that now, but I like to see the whole month at a glance.

With today’s instant communication via the web it is advised that things you don’t want others to see or know about shouldn’t be written because of the chance they end up on social media. This is especially true for proprietary business information, passionate opinions or state secrets. Nothing is sacred anymore, subject wise, and according to some if you have an object in your home with a built-in microphone even discussions behind closed doors are not safe. I’m glad I’m not in a position to be discussing any sensitive information. I’m pretty sure no one cares what I’m talking about making for supper except maybe my husband.

When I used to work and three out of four employees came to work in the same color combination, and the fourth one didn’t, we would tease her she didn’t read her morning memo. I’m sure you’ve had something like that happen too, if you work out of the home.

When I was managing a store, I would write new info on the chalk board so the part-time employees would know what was going on no matter which day they worked. I had a couple of people tell me that they liked being kept up to date. So memos can be a good thing if used properly. My husband is constantly getting meeting reminders on his phone. I know because of the sound the message makes when it arrives. That’s a good thing too, except the guy that sends them often does it around midnight when we are in bed. We call him bad names when the “tweedle” wakes us up. I know, we just have to remember to turn the sound off before hitting the hay. That would take another memo.

How do you use memos? Are they to fellow employees, your kids or yourself?