Two big issues I struggle with are my rather extreme height (though this is less of an issue than it was when I was, say, 16 and I hated EVERYTHING and just wanted to be NORMAL. Now it's more a matter of inconvenience than acceptance.) and my son's food allergies.
Both were summed up succinctly for me this week.
1. A few days ago I was getting out of my car in Ballard (a neighborhood in Seattle) and two stonerish guys passed me. One of them said, "Whoa. Tall." And I just had to snicker to myself. Because of all the stupid comments and insults I've heard over the years, Whoa. Tall. is definitely the most concise. Kudos to you, Bill and Ted.
2. When I received the written report of Fruit Bat's food allergy results yesterday, I shook my head. I knew they were bad.
But, Shite.
The good news is, it looks like he can eat all the grey alder and silver birch he wants. Mmm, fiber.
And, really. I don't want you to feel sorry for us. This is what it is. It's our reality. We can deal. It's just that numbers are so stark and cold.
So aggravatingly succinct.
So wait - he can't have milk or egg, either? What a pain it must be to feed him - not to mention scary. (of course I have one vegetarian, two meat eaters and one just-started-baby-fooder, so I'm all about inconvenience in the kitchen.) On the bright side, it looks as though you can let your house get as dusty as you want.
Posted by: Donna | November 18, 2008 at 10:31 PM
Those reports can run your life. For the whole summer we were watch, watch, watching H's platelets, waiting for 150....
Posted by: Nora Bee | November 18, 2008 at 10:51 PM
What class level is safe to ingest? I don't know that much about those numbers. But I can relate to the tall thing....although for me it's those remarks from guys like "heh, big boobies" that have been with me forever. Until Dec 30, then that will all change!
XO
Posted by: Leslie | November 18, 2008 at 11:17 PM
and the good news is, it looks like you don't have to dust as often!!
( sorry about the others. )
Posted by: vodkamom | November 19, 2008 at 03:32 AM
Gray Alder, Silver Birch, and Dust Mites! Dust mite allergies are actually a pain in the ...dust. So I'm glad he can roll around on the carpet to his heart's content. And I didn't see wheat on there, no?
Sorry to be chipper if you're not in the mood; it's just that I have dealt with food allergies and I like to celebrate the little victories.
Whoa. Tall. (One of my good friends is 6'3" and lived in China for 6 years. They made "tall" part of her name.)
Posted by: kcinnova | November 19, 2008 at 04:07 AM
Ahhh. I've seen this before.
The oldest boy had one that looked vaguely similar. He scored highest on fish (his favorite food), peanuts, grass and corn. Corn was the worst. He grew out of most but not all. The corn thing still gets him. At 25 he's learned to manage. There's hope.
I hope people are more informed now. I had people tell me that he just needed to eat more corn and play in the grass to develop immunities; as his throat swelled shut. Yeah, right!
Posted by: Michele | November 19, 2008 at 05:18 AM
Wow! And there you have it. What can he eat? Besides tree bark, of course.
Posted by: InTheFastLane | November 19, 2008 at 08:29 AM
This is in NO way me giving you any kind of medical advice, but just telling you my experience.
When I was 9, I had to be allergy tested and the list produced was very, very long. It included many things I had never had a problem with, but my parents took them out of my diet. Slowly we added some of the low value ones that I had never reacted to and I was fine. There are some I can't eat and I will always have allergy and asthma issues, but it ended up not effecting my life as much as we thought it would right after I had the test.
Posted by: shonda | November 19, 2008 at 08:52 AM
Sorry, sister. About the allergies. The height? Nah, you're too stunning.
Posted by: BOSSY | November 19, 2008 at 10:04 AM
Wow. That is going to make for some clever cooking.
I wish I were taller. When people like me ask how the weather is up there? We really want to know. Seriously. Down here it just smells like everybody else's armpits and the shade makes me feel like a small jungle creature.
Posted by: anne nahm | November 19, 2008 at 10:52 AM
On the bright side, looks like you won't have to worry about dusting anymore!
Good thing, too, cause it sounds like those allergies could be keeping you pretty busy!
Posted by: Eternal Sunshine | November 19, 2008 at 02:01 PM
As someone who has known you for what seems like forever I never ever never knew your height bothered you. You are so pretty, smart, and your talent for writing is unbelieveable. You seriously could have taken Bill and Ted out in one fatal swoop hunny just think on that and giggle.
As for your sons allergies I'm sorry and it's not a pitiful sorry. My daughter has food allergies and more. When she had her allergy testing there were like 4 items she wasn't allergic to 2 of them being our cat and dog. I give you my good thoughts and wishes.
HUGZ
Posted by: Joie | November 19, 2008 at 06:07 PM
I don't imagine that's telling you anything you didn't already know, but it's gotta be a bodyblow to see it all in black and white.
Kid Furious had allergies as a baby and toddler and she was on a restricted diet until two (no dairy, wheat, eggs, soy and more I can't think of), but the worst thing we had to worry about with her and a slip up was hives.
I want you to know that you have really opened my eyes about severe allergies and I think of this stuff in a whole new light after posts like the playground incident, etc. I know it must be tough to go thru, but thanks for sharing.
All my best.
Posted by: Mr Furious | November 19, 2008 at 09:31 PM