Sunday, March 25, 2007
No, Seriously, I Mean It
Throughout my life I have been asked about having kids. How many, when and I’ve always said that I do not want to have kids. I’ve said this since I was a kid. And I’ve always received the same response:
“Oh, you’ll change your mind one day. You’re still young but one day, you’ll meet the right person and you’ll change your mind.”
Really.
Today I was getting ready to go on a boat ride around the Bay and was basking in the glorious sunshine, rarin’ to get out there and enjoy. Because it was such a nice day, many people were out, including families. So, just before I was about to board the boat, I watched a family getting ready for their own outing.
The family had a little boy, about 6 years old and they had just finished putting his little life vest on him. Yes, cute. I watched the little boy dance around with glee, anxious, in his own way, to get started. Sure he was fun to watch as I completely understood his feeling. So, I watched. And was treated to one of the most disgusting scenes I think I’ve ever witnessed.
At first the little boy had his back to me as he danced around. Moments later, he whirled around so that he was facing me, a huge, eager grin spreading across his face at some object between his fingers. His eyes lit up and just before he crammed his hand in to his mouth, I made the mistake of looking at this that brought him such joy.
It was the gooiest, greenest, ugliest piece of snot and the little boy slurped upon it with reckless abandon.
Every single breakfast, lunch and dinner I have ever consumed in my entire life threatened to hurl forth from my mouth, closely followed by the shoes I was currently wearing. I fought hard, standing there, on the dock, hoping to everything that I would not lose that battle.
“Bunnies in meadows, babbling brooks, deer and antelope playing”, I repeated in my head, over and over and over until the gagging finally passed. I climbed on board, sat down and tried to think of anything but that child’s treasure for the rest of the afternoon.
So, no, ok? NO. Everyone is wrong. I’m not changing my mind. And don’t give me the little song about how I would feel differently were it my own. NO! That is too much.
