A funny thing happens when there are too many things to try to keep track of – some things are forgotten.

Case in point: my brother and I were discussing films – which ones we had seen in the theatre (turns out it took me longer to name the last three films because two of them were from two years prior), which ones we had owned, which ones we have borrowed and which ones we had loaned.

I ‘flunked’ the first question only because I keep my movie-going wishlist very short: Harry Potter or Star Trek, afternoon matinée. I might splurge on a small popcorn and small soda. Anything beyond that would require my finding something larger than a $20 bill when I go by myself.

As for owning films, I have a simple rule: keep only as many as will fit in a shoebox. For the most part, that rule has remained. Problem is finding a second copy of “Shawshank Redemption” in the shoebox because I bought it on sale for $5, forgetting I already had a better copy purchased long before at about the same cost. Thankfully, my brother didn’t own it, so he got it, along with whatever other Stephen King film was in that package.

Films borrowed (90% of what I watch comes courtesy of the library systems with the ideal price of ‘free’ unless I’m running late – and that happens every now and then) – I belatedly discovered three films I had already borrowed and watched from ‘way back when’ so convinced myself that subconsciously, I just wanted to see them again. That helps make up for the small handful of films checked out that didn’t make it past the five-minute viewing mark. When borrowing from friends, there is a particular place by the stair where the finished films are kept. As far as I know, I haven’t lost one – yet.

Movies loaned. If I’ve loaned any out, I don’t remember which ones they are, to whom or when. So maybe, just maybe, my brother has my copy of “Memento.” (Unless that was already his – if he even owns it.)