Forgetting basic tools that you can use to understand your own code is making your life a lot more difficult than it could otherwise be. It might be a good idea to print it on a piece of paper and stick to a wall. Or find some other way to stop stepping on the same rake over and over.
That's deserved. I tend to see these things in the heat of some battle and I remember that there IS a way, but can't remember what it is. Also I play with zsh in binges -- I can go a year without touching her, and I forget a whole lot that was only tenuously learned. BTW, how does one search the archives? I'd look there first, especially when I clearly remember that I had some issue before even if I don't remember how it resolved. Just googling I often come across one of my own posts but a direct search in the archives would be best. Meantime I'll have 'typeset -p' tattooed onto the back of my hand.