Giveth and taketh away

Reading over this post from Marc, I am reminded of two recent incidents. First was one that happened this afternoon as I came back from lunch, when I met two of the ladies from downstairs as they came out into the corridor. I said "Hey" to them (as I do to everybody, both out of general friendliness and also just in case I know them but have forgotten that I do) and one of them said, "You know, Terry, you just haven't gotten any older." I've been here for nearly ten years now, so she does have some time reference to go by. The other lady agreed with her, and such positive reinforcement, coming without having to be begged or wheedled out of them, sort of took me by surprise. (Frankly, I think it's the blue checkered shirt I have on today--it makes me look like a little boy.) I thanked them, profusely, and allowed that I may not have gotten any older, but my hair sure has. They tsk-tsked my suggestion and we went on our separate paths.

It was certainly a very nice and unexpected compliment to receive, and almost makes up for what happened last night.

Rebecca got through with her practice and walked over to where I was waiting for Jonathan to get through with his. I stood there, my mind a complete blank. Bec pulled and tugged on the bleachers a bit, and chattered about what she did in school during the day, and about things, and stuff, which I answered with my normal, "Mmhm." Then, she got quiet, and a few moments later I sensed that she was staring at me. I looked over at her, and she was intently studying my head. "What is it, sugar?"

"Daddy, why do you have hair growing all out of your ears?"

::sigh::
posted by Terry at 2:57:00 PM