In the summer my parents would take my sister and me to a place called the Chatham Pool. It was a water hole, really, not a paved pool, with a grassy area around the entire pool where we would picnic. One Saturday morning – it must have been a Sunday as my Dad worked every other day, including Saturday – we were driving there for the day when I spoke up from the back seat. I must have been eleven or twelve because I was in the 7th grade. I said I had a joke to tell my parents, and I began to speak. I don’t remember the joke at all, though I remember what followed as if it were yesterday. The joke I told was about a ‘pussy’ and had been told to me the day before by the boy who sat next to me in homeroom, John Ruggerio. I will never forget his name either. There was an immense silence in the front seat when I finished telling the ‘joke’. Finally my mother quietly asked, “Nancy, do you know what the word ‘pussy’ means?” I answered with some indignation, “A little cat of course.” No one said anything else. My sister wasn’t even paying attention; she rarely did when I was talking. Some years later when I realized what the word meant, I asked my mother if she remembered that day. Of course she did. She and my dad laughed about it for years. They were very relieved by my answer, since I seemed a bit young at the time to know the other meaning of the word. Kids today would probably understand the joke by the time they were eight, but that is another story. Another incident I will never forget. When my daughters were small, the elder one used to torture the younger in all sorts of ways. I was coming down the stairs with laundry when I heard my younger daughter say, with absolute fury, “If you ever do that to me again, I will tell everyone in school that you are growing pubic hair!” Again, silence prevailed. This was unusual, as my older daughter was quite voluble, but that day she said not a word. As far as I know, she never did whatever she was doing again. I quietly turned around, headed back up the stairs, went into my bedroom, closed the door, moved to the bathroom, closing that door as well, and doubled over with laughter. As I recall, I laughed for a very long time. Once I was able to stop, I realized I was delighted. My younger child, who was tiny, was learning to use her very marvelous brain to take care of herself. I eagerly await the equally hilarious comments that will come from my two grandsons, age 10 months and three plus. They are sure to be doozies, since the older child has certainly inherited his mother’s brain. I can only assume the younger has as well; if not, he will follow in his father’s footsteps, and he is no slouch either.
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Thanks much. When I have more time later today I will go to your web blog too. Nancy
That made me laugh. Great way to begin a Saturday. Aint kids grand!
Thanks much. Tell her to comment as well. I’d love to hear what she has to say. Specific comments are welcome.
Thanks much. Glad to have you. You might want to check out by ‘books’ page and see if either book seems interesting to you as well. I should be blogging again on Monday. Nancy
Tried your web address but couldn’t read it. Never learned Hebrew as a kid….
There are several short videos on my website. Just go to the video page, and/ or the blog page. Some of my blogs have been videos.
Check out my listings on Amazon.com. There are two books there you can buy. And thanks much. I write blog posts every other Monday, if you prefer that.
Thanks much. Really appreciate your comment. Keeps me keeping on.
Awesome article.
Thanks much. Appreciate it.
Thanks much. Comments like yours keep me blogging.
Write from the heart. Get someone to set up your site so that it is accessible to many. Good luck.
My contact info is on my website where you found the blog.
Nope. Sorry.
WordPress. Sorry. It’s worked for me.
No one else has had a problem, or told me so, so I presume it was an issue that day,? Sure hope so,
Many thanks back.
Thanks a lot. I’m open to suggestions for topics.
Thanks much. Don’t stay away so long next time. I will be blogging on Monday. And by the way, my daughter is a realtor in Bend, Or.
Have no idea why that would be, and have never been told this before, and I’ve been up and running for several years. Thanks though. Hope you keep reading. And if you have any suggestions for topics you’d like me to pursue, let me know.
Go to my website nancyalvarqezwrites.com and you will find email subscription and links. Glad you enjoyed the blog.
Have no idea what that is about. Could you explain the problem. thanks much.