Thursday, November 19, 2009

The Saddest Day in Recent Memory

Yesterday was a real low point.

Either me or one of my children has been sick for 11 days now, and 11 days is a long time to be holed up with a baby and a 3-year old, I'll tell you what. I was starting to feel a little isolated and lonely, so I decided to take the kids to story time at the library. Because I'm the only one who's still sick (but I'm mostly better, just a lingering runny nose), I thought if I just sat off to the side it would be no big deal.

We showed up a few minutes before it started and I didn't see anyone I knew, so I sat off to the side, as planned. The one woman I know showed up. She scanned the room, I thought she saw me so I waved, and she went and sat on the other side of the room. Okey dokey. Dis #1. So, I'm out in public, still by myself.

I tried to make conversation with the woman to my right, but when her friend showed up, she stopped talking to me. Dis #2

The low point is coming.

I tried talking to the woman on my left. She was Chinese, and I'm not sure how much English she spoke. And, she was sitting on a mat. The mat was bright pink and rubbery-spongy looking. It had some sort of cartoon bunny or cat on it. Nora was fascinated by this mat. She wasn't licking it, or vomiting on it, just sort of poking it. I said, "I think she likes your mat," and gestured to Nora. The woman looked disapprovingly at Nora, then back at me and said, "it's waterproof."

"Oh, that must be... convenient." Because, what the heck do you say to that? The lady took one more glance at Nora who was picking up a corner and letting it fall back down and then picked up her mat, walked about 10 feet away, and sat back down. SuperDis.

I wanted to cry. In fact, once story time was over, I did cry in the car the whole way home.

To make myself feel better, I sliced up the pumpkin bread I made two days ago in a fit of domestic energy and delivered it pop-over style to the ladies I visit teach. It got us out of the house, and it's always nice to have people be happy to see you. Even if they're really only happy because you brought baked goods.

6 comments:

Bridget said...

WHAT KIND OF PLACE IS SUAHUARITA TO TREAT YOU LIKE THIS? They don't deserve you. You have to admit that would not have happened at the Woods branch. There were far greater concerns there, like the daycare kid who always had his hand in his poopy diaper. They would have welcomed your snot-nose and your inquisitive Nora there.

heidi nielsen said...

Waterproof?

Natchel said...

Oh my gosh!! I have some rather un-PC comments to say right here but don't know who else might be commenting... I'm so sorry!
I'm sick and Gabe has been going through this screaming/tantrum phase (I'm hoping it's a phase....) so the two of us have been at each others throats the last few days. He has been making going out and enjoying myself quite unrealistic.

Belle of the Blues said...

Oohhh! Poor 'manda! I'm sorry that happened to you. If you lived in my town we could hang out together, even if we were all still sick.

Linda@CraftaholicsAnonymous said...

Wow, what a crappy day!! I'm so sorry! I hate mean people. And that lady with the mat, who does she think she is?!

PS Thanks for rating my wreath! :)

Patrick said...

The next time I'm in Tucson, take me to this story time place. I would saran wrap the Chinese lady's car and tell her "guess what? I've just waterproofed your car."

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