Thursday, June 1, 2006 - Counting to 24
Re-posting this because a friend was looking for it and because something like this happened AGAIN over the weekend at church...
Yesterday we took our children to the dentist. That of course is what inspired my last entry.
George and I were sitting in the overflow part of the waiting room (a.k.a. the hallway) with Paige, being the only of our children without teeth she lucked out of seeing the dentist.
You experience many interesting sights and sounds waiting for 90+ minutes in the hallway of a building such as the one we were in.
We of course (you may recall), were in front of a dentist's office. Just down the hall to the right was an FBI office (I'm not joking) and an ethnic type Pediatrician's office that had the coolest fishtank and children's waiting area. To the left was a clinic for those with heart conditions (mostly elderly going in and out of there), and directly in front of us was an office that apperantly keeps books for fast food joints, a motorcycle shop and the dentist. Interesting indeed.
We saw many fascinating people come and go during our wait and heard many fascinating conversations. For instance, I learned that if you bounce a check and don't take care of it, you end up paying for it at the courthouse, to the D.A.. I might not have ever known that, otherwise.
I heard tales of no-good-good-fer'-nothin son in law's and that Cingular apperantly "screw's" people around for no reason.
At some point a nice "hillbilly" (sorry, I know that's not pc) family sits accross from us. They were sweet, but SO loud. The grampa talks to us and ask's the age of our baby and tells us about his grandchildren, one of whom he is there with. The conversation lulls and a couple of guys from the FBI office walk past. When the two are out of earshot, Grampa states, "That man was left-handed." His family looks at him puzzled, as do I.
Where'd that come from?!
He leans over and explains to his family, but I did not hear what he said.
I think to myself, "Wow, attention to detail, he's gonna notice."
(Notice what? you may ask... It's coming.)
We sit there a bit longer and he ask's what color the baby's eyes are, "Is that blue or brown?".
"Hazel.", my dh answers.
I notice him staring at her and I almost giggle, knowing he's about to see it...
His eyes widen...
Finally,
"Can I ask you folks a question?".
"Of course, ask away."
"Is that an extra finger there on her hand?"
Now at this point I wonder how many of you scrolled down the page to find that picture of Paige.
For those of you who were too reserved to do that, go ahead, it's totally fine. Seriously. Go ahead, I'll wait. She's the lovely,naked chubster in my dh's arms.
Are you back?
Good. Pretty cool, huh?
His family members (and everyone else in the waiting area) snap thier heads around
and look first at him and then at Paige.
Whiplash anyone?
We tell them about how she has extra digits all around, that it is a family trait, and how our son was born with them as was I.
Silence.
I said, "We serve a creative God don't we?".
Nervous laughter.
I never know how to approach people about it. Should I just say something upfront, or wait for them to notice?
I go back and forth between the two options.
I just refuse to be ashamed of it or try to hide it. This is just how God made us and I am okay with that.
The worst response I've gotten yet was, "That's caused from incest."-UGH!
I have to add that the one who said that was the sister of dh's former girlfriend, and I find it interesting that she herself has two different colored eyes and her sister has webbed feet. The hateful, bitter gal in me wonders if she was speaking from experience.
I was born in Maine and moved to this area. My dh's family has thier roots here and is "kin" to everyone around here but me, I swear. He jokes that our marriage is the first real branch on the family tree. As for my family, this hexadactyl thing has been going on for generations. If there is incest back there somewhere, I don't know, but considering we all came from Adam and Eve, isn't there incest in some form in every family at some point? - double UGH!, but true...
Going back to that waiting area,when I made the remark about our creative God, my eyes met with those of a man with a walker. He was about 4 feet tall, if I had to guess. We smiled at eachother. Just then my children came barrelling out of the office with shiny teeth, new toothbrushes and toys. Our wait was finally over!
I am happy to report that no dentist's were harmed (bitten) in the telling of this story...
I really was worried.
And for those that still wonder about the left-handed man in the hall, my dh tells me it was obvious because his gun and holster were on his left hip rather than his right...
Another lesson learned.
Comments
Thursday, April 20, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by MommyHAM
I already knew b/c you told me before! ;op
Shame on the person who mentioned the incest (that was a different occasion though, right?) as a cause for that.
Genetic mutation somewhere along the line...which, coincidentally, red hair also happens to be a genetic mutation - I wonder if she thinks that is due to incest too, or if she just keeps her trap shut b/c haircolor is not that big a deal. Some people have no business connecting the dots in their heads with the tongues in their mouths, that's for sure.
Your baby is DARLING, extra digits and ALL! :)
Thursday, April 20, 2006 - Thanks Hammy!
Posted by tallenmomof5
I'm glad you popped in, I've been missing you girl! Isn't it funny the things people say when faced with something out of the"norm"?
Friday, April 21, 2006 - Thanks and Digits
Posted by DMalament
Thanks for commenting on my blog and for praying for me.
I had to laught when I read about the extra digits. All I could think of was Mandy Patinkin in Princess Bride saying, "Do you have six fingers on you left hand?" Oh, and the other thing, my brain kept saying, "How do they buy gloves?" I guess mittens?... ::smiles:: (none of this said to offend. I am trusting you understand that...)
Blessings,
Diana
Friday, April 21, 2006 - hee,hee,hee!
Posted by tallenmomof5
Of course I understand! My extra fingers were removed right away, so no need for the glove/mitten debate for me, but my toes stayed until I was almost 5, which means I never wore a real pair of shoes till then. I was a flip-flop kinda girl...
Matter of fact, I still am!
Saturday, April 22, 2006 - Hi, Trish!
Posted by food4life
Hi, Trish!
Thanks for stopping by my blog. Sure, I'd love to have a buddy/partner! Have you checked out blubberbloggers? They have a blog and a yahoo list. http://homeschoolbloggers.com/blubberbloggers
I am realllllllllly struggling, but I did exercise today for the first time in ages! Woo hoo! Baby steps!
Thanks for your encouragement! We can do this! :-)
Love,
Karla
Monday, April 24, 2006 - Oh my goodness
Posted by kkccmom
Trish,
I think you gave me my only belly laugh today...what hysterics. thanks for sharing the Dentist/FBI/Fast Food/Misc office story. Absoultely wonderful.
Ever considered stand-up???
Monday, April 24, 2006 - Now I'm laughing!!
Posted by tallenmomof5
No, I'd never though of that, I guess I just associate that world with smokey bars and filthy mouths. There are christian comedians though aren't there?!
I just love to make people smile. Frankly I'm the type that can't ever tell a joke right, and even if I somehow manage I crack up in the middle of it.
Your words bless me sister!
Thursday, June 1, 2006 - Untitled Comment
Posted by ChathamMommy
Okay, I just think that is too cool (and Paige is way too cute... ALMOST as cute as Princess Moo ;)). I love that God makes us all different in one way or another. Having extra digits is no more "odd" than being left-handed and I've never understood why people don't just embrace those differences, rather than villifying them. Sure, it's a little harder to fit in, but who wants to be just like everyone else??
Thanks for sharing. I could just see the conversation going on. :)
Tuesday, June 6, 2006 - I just love reading your posts!!
Posted by Lissa4Jesus
I am usually in a hurry and skim read things because I have to go do something "in a second." That is my answer..."just a second..." and then I have a list of things I have to do in a "second." Well, when I read your blogs, I am always drawn, whether I am smiling, laughing or sympathetically sad. Thanks for drawing me in. BTW, we all have things that are different from others...some of us are just too proud to mention it. Have a great day!! Melissa