Tuesday, June 17, 2008

When I was a little girl, my best friend was the Tooth Fairy. I would say things like, "The Tooth Fairy and I are going to play dolls;" "The Tooth Fairy is taking me to the store." Apparently I talked about the Tooth Fairy a lot.

One day my mother told me there was no such thing as a Tooth Fairy. It broke my heart. I couldn't believe it, not after we had meant so much to each other. At that time, she was the love and center of my strange little life. I was bereft for awhile, but I guess I got over it. The Tooth Fairy and I haven't even talked for years. I wonder if she is still out there.

Also when I was a little girl, one day I suddenly had problems swallowing. I couldn't get cereal down. My mom even bought some peanut candy for me, but I couldn't get it down. Over the week or two that I couldn't swallow, I lost weight and looked haggard. Finally my mom took me to the doctor. She thought maybe I had a growth in my throat.

The doctor looked in my throat, but there was nothing wrong. As soon as he said the actual words, "There's nothing wrong with you," I was cured. It was a miracle. I just needed to hear the words from someone who knew.

Sometimes I think about trying to get that problem back--not being able to swallow--so I could lose some weight. But then I think about the problems I could have if I really made myself not be able to swallow, and it makes me nervous, so I don't do it.

I'm sure I was a strange child, but I think everyone probably was. How about you? Will you confess to doing something strange as a child?

8 comments:

Robin said...

I think we were all strange children and probably strange adults now too...at least in the opinion of someone.

I can't think of anything strange that I did as a kid, but I know people have considered me strange as a kid and as an adult. If I think of something I'll come back and share...

I think when people are different than we are we often consider it strange.

But you know what we are strangers in this world waiting for our reunion with our Creator and others we love at Home...

Paula said...

Yes, we are strange and we are strangers. I need to remind myself about being a stranger because sometimes I get weary of living and working in the world. But guess what? The world is not my real or permanent home. Thanks for the comment.

Kay Day said...

I never did anything weird. Ok, I did. But I'm not telling here, because I already planned on blogging it.

Julie said...

No. I wont tell.

Jessican said...

I tried to explain to my husband the kind of magical storying-telling ability you had as a teacher, but I had been somewhat unsuccessful in this endeavor...that is until I read him this post. You still got it, Mrs. B.

Momstheword said...

I have a picture of you taken on a camping trip. You're standing there with a long stick in each hand. You were a horse and those sticks were your front legs.

Paula said...

Thanks for all the comments.

Jessican, thanks for saying so.

I was a great pretender as a child. I'm sure I will tell more stories about that in the future. When I was teaching, most of my students said they didn't do anything odd like I did. I'm sure they did, but maybe they didn't think they were odd because they were the ones doing them. I know for a fact they were odd!

Momstheword said...

Someone told me that if I crossed my eyes long enough my eyes would stick. I'd lie in bed with my eyes crossed, and then, in a panic, I'd jump up, turn on the light and look in the mirror! Scared and then so relieved. Then I would do it again. Can't imagine what my sister thought (we shared a bed).