Dumbing Up

Do we get less intelligent as we age? Anyone else feel like their I.Q. goes down as their age goes up? I used to score high on aptitude tests. Now I'm fairly certain my scores would fall somewhere between savant and DMV employee (I can't wait for the hate comments I'm going to get on that one). The other day I had to look up the proper use of an apostrophe in the "it's" vs. "its" scenario. What a nightmare.

I get that we become less adept at things when we stop practicing them. Skills atrophy, the pathways in our brains start meandering in other directions. I'm just not happy about it. I like supplying the word people can't think of. I like using multi-syllabic words in conversation. I'm worried those days are behind me.

I'm coming upon a two-week break from work and I've already been to Borders, where I bought seven books in the hopes of kick-starting my brain. Perhaps I'll even take an English course. Okay, or just read an English book. And by that I mean a book written in English. By Chelsea Handler....