Horrible Woman

Today I got a pedicure. I was craving a little relaxation and Carrie time, plus my feet were crusty. Parts of my pedi were lovely--lemon-scented water and peppermint lotion, the massage was great--but I would rather have an inexperienced child pull out infected in-grown toenails with dull scissors than spend another minute with the horrible woman I sat next to today.  Maybe she's nice in real life.  Maybe she's a good cook and a charming hostess. I'm sure she loves her family and means well, but today she was horrible.

The last time I was in the spa, over a month ago, I was still happily (freaked out) pregnant with triplets.  I was in the early stages of acceptance, so after sitting too quietly for 30 minutes I loudly blurted "I'm pregnant...WITH TRIPLETS!!"  The whole room just stared at me for a second and then blew up with excited chatter.  They questioned me, cheered me, and shook their heads in shock and thank-God-it's-not-me-gratitude. These were the first people I'd shared my news with outside my family and it was exciting. These strangers and acquaintances were energized and for a few moments I ate that energy and thought 'I can TOTALLY do this!!'

Walking in to the spa today I knew I'd have to tell them the news about the twins.  It wasn't too difficult, but it was awkward.  I didn't make a big deal of it. When my nail tech asked how I was doing I simply said that I was only having one baby now.  I'd lost the other two.

The horrible woman turned, nosed in to the conversation, and said flippantly, "Well, everything happens for a reason."  Okay...that's okay, that's not horrible. People say that (or things like it) all the time and my wounds have healed over so I can take it for what it is.

What she said next was unforgivable, horrible:  "My sister-in-law gave birth to triplets and one of them only lived for two weeks.  I told her it was probably for the best 'cause I didn't know how she could take care of all three since two was like to kill her."

Really?  That's what you said?  You horrible woman.  How could any decent, thinking person ever tell a mother-who had actually held her tiny daughter-it was "for the best" that child had died?  Am I wrong?  Is there some excuse for this, some justification that makes it okay?  Understandable?

I wish I had been more outspoken, but my reaction was too visceral for words at that point.  I couldn't articulate, I just knew what she'd said was wrong wrong wrong. I should have said something, I wish I had, but I just gave a disgusted look and turned away.  

23 Reasons I Love Summer!

I am a summer girl.  I look best with tan lines and the only place I'm graceful is gliding through water.  I love all the seasons, but summer is where I live best.

This summer has been weird.  I've been sick and sad a lot and just haven't been able to take the day-to-day joy in life that normally comes naturally to me.  I was cleaning out a file in my desk and found this list I made last year.  Even though I wrote it when I was surely supposed to be working on something else, I'm so glad I have it to remind me how much I love summer.  I hope next summer will have all these things and MANY more!!

1. Pool Days
2. Tan fat looks better than white fat
3. Fresh corn-on-the-cob
4. Fresh pesto from the garden
5. Sunglasses
6. Sandals and glittery flip-flops
7. Blond hair
8. Make up= mascara and clear lip gloss
9. Pedicures and glitter toenail polish
10. Splash contests
11. Grill out burgers and chicken skewers
12. Baked potatoes for dinner
13. Kindle reading poolside
14. BIRTHDAYS!!
15. Long sunsets
16. Our beautiful little veggie garden
17. BLTs (Kentucky tomatoes from the garden)
18. The way Paul's Market smells
19. Peaches
20. A/C
21. Banana pudding
22. 4th of July
23. Wearing brown, white

Bonus:  Stuff that sucks about Summer

1. Sweaty thighs on leather/vinyl seats
2. Burning steering wheels
3. Constantly washing towels
4. Getting older:  Birthdays
5. Looking older:  UV Rays from tan fat
6. Tan lines from sunglasses
7. Shaving required
8. Mosquitoes and bees
9. It ends