Absent Minded and Forgetful! Blame genetics!

I was on the phone last night with my parents as I frequently am (I have this fantastic service that lets anyone in Guatemala call me and for them it is only a local call) and my mom was telling us (my father is on one phone, my mother on another and more often that not, they end up catching up on each other's day with me simply listening. I often need to remind them that I am also on the line) that Nandi (my beautiful 20 year old niece) lost her laptop. she then explained that she did not really loose it. She forgot it in the school where she teaches English. When she came back to retrieve it all she found was the laptop case.
My father went on saying that it was a good lesson and that next time she would be more careful with her things.
My mother didn't agree and I didn't either. I started thinking that I am always forgetting things. I have to say that I have been very lucky in my life (knock on wood) because I am always surrounded by people that "watch over me". I cannot count how many times I have left my purse in park benches, restaurants, movie theaters, etc. Amazingly, I always find it and nothing has ever been missing. (knock on wood once more). I believe I lost at least a dozen sweaters in my childhood and I posses absolutely no sense of direction.
I don't think I am an irresponsible person, I am simply absent minded. The fact that I loose something today does not mean that I will be "more careful" with my things tomorrow. I can say this with a straight face because I have been trying all my life. I now do things like not bringing a purse at all or making lists to make sure I don't forget stuff.
When I think about it, my wonderful beloved mother is 10 times worse and has been all her life. She is a very accomplished business woman who has managed to raise 6 children and run a busy household, yet she is always forgetful an dare I say... a little chaotic.
So, I feel for my niece. I actually think it is a genetic defect that runs in my family. I am not trying to excuse our behaviour. I am simply stating factual history. I guess we can always keep trying to do better and thank God for the people in our life that love us regardless of our flaws.