Captain Oblivious reporting for duty
The entire time that I have known Jim he has told me that I pay very little attention to what is happening around me. When we got married he nicknamed me Captain Oblivious, and at the time I was offended because me? Oblivious? That is obviously wrong and please, stop calling me that, not only is it wrong, it's a lie! Hmrph.
Fast forward to yesterday, the day where I was 13 weeks pregnant (Yay!). Last night I hosted book club at my house and had a handful of women over, most of whom have children, but only a few of whom know that I had a miscarriage and that I am now trying again to get pregnant. Once I made sure everyone was served their food and had what they needed, I finally sat down with my plate to enjoy dinner. The woman next to me turned and asked if I got a glass of wine to go with my pasta. I just smiled and said I wasn't thirsty right now, and I would grab something to drink later. She quizzically looked at me, raised one eyebrow, and cocked her head to the side. I turned away so I wouldn't spill the beans and she elbowed me in the side. As I looked at her; nodding her head to encourage me to spill my story, I quickly told her 'Shush!' I can't talk about it. Her eyes got big and she said "Oh! I have to leave the room, or else I am going to say something!" Luckily most everyone else there was involved in conversation, and didn't notice our exchange. Or maybe my oblivious genes had kicked in, for I wanted to believe that no one in the room had any clue as to what we were discussing. As the woman sitting beside me left the room, a good friend who was on the couch suddenly piped up and asked what that exchange was all about. I replied to my friend: 'Nothing!' She persisted: 'Something is going on, what is it?' Again I came back with my genius response of: 'Nothing'. Friend: 'That was something.' Me: 'Ok! I will tell you later what is going on.' I just needed my friend to quit pestering me, I didn't want anyone else in the room to figure out that I am pregnant, I just can't bring myself to tell people yet.
As the evening ended my friend who figured out my 'condition' cornered me in the kitchen and asked when I was going to tell people. I told her that I hadn't heard the heart beat and I was waiting for that before I announced to the world that my husband and I are recreating. She understood, having had a miscarriage herself, and gave me a hug and my first belly rub. "Oh! You are showing!" she exclaimed as she pulled her hand away. "Only a little, and when I wear lose shirts you can't tell" I replied. She just smiled sweetly and went on her way. Other people left, the evening came to a close, and I was faced with cleaning up. As I was washing dishes I thought about how my friend sitting on the couch had asked me what was happening and I told her I would tell her later. She didn't ask again why I was acting so strangely and we didn't have a moment alone to talk. I patted myself on the back for avoiding her scrutiny and was quite pleased that no one else had figured out that I was pregnant. Dodged that bullet!
A few minutes later the phone rang. It was my good friend, who didn't bother beating around the bush at all. What follows is a slightly edited edition of our conversation.
Her: So what is going on? Why were you two acting so strangely at dinner? You said you would tell me later, and we didn't get another chance to talk all night.
Me: Oh. Um. (Thinking: Crap! She wasn't supposed to remember this conversation!) Hi.
Her: Soooooo....
Me: Well! I'm pregnant! 13 weeks, but I am not telling people because I need to hear the heartbeat before I go yapping away about the baby in my belly.
Her: I KNEW IT! Congratulations!
Me: Thank you! But please, don't let anyone know. I don't want to spread the news yet.
Her: I figured you were pregnant last month at book group when you didn't drink then. By the way - you are totally showing.
Me: ........
We went on to talk a little more and then said goodnight. Later I was talking with Jim and mentioned that both of my friends commented on how I am showing. I then talked about how I can't be showing yet, I am only 13 weeks, people don't show until 16 weeks, and besides, we aren't telling people, I CAN'T be showing if we AREN'T telling people. Jim just nodded his head like a good husband does and replied 'Yes dear'. Then the light bulb went off and I looked at Jim 'I am totally in denial about showing aren't I? I don't want people to know, so I assume that they won't be able to tell anything is different about me.'
I have officially earned my nickname.
Fast forward to yesterday, the day where I was 13 weeks pregnant (Yay!). Last night I hosted book club at my house and had a handful of women over, most of whom have children, but only a few of whom know that I had a miscarriage and that I am now trying again to get pregnant. Once I made sure everyone was served their food and had what they needed, I finally sat down with my plate to enjoy dinner. The woman next to me turned and asked if I got a glass of wine to go with my pasta. I just smiled and said I wasn't thirsty right now, and I would grab something to drink later. She quizzically looked at me, raised one eyebrow, and cocked her head to the side. I turned away so I wouldn't spill the beans and she elbowed me in the side. As I looked at her; nodding her head to encourage me to spill my story, I quickly told her 'Shush!' I can't talk about it. Her eyes got big and she said "Oh! I have to leave the room, or else I am going to say something!" Luckily most everyone else there was involved in conversation, and didn't notice our exchange. Or maybe my oblivious genes had kicked in, for I wanted to believe that no one in the room had any clue as to what we were discussing. As the woman sitting beside me left the room, a good friend who was on the couch suddenly piped up and asked what that exchange was all about. I replied to my friend: 'Nothing!' She persisted: 'Something is going on, what is it?' Again I came back with my genius response of: 'Nothing'. Friend: 'That was something.' Me: 'Ok! I will tell you later what is going on.' I just needed my friend to quit pestering me, I didn't want anyone else in the room to figure out that I am pregnant, I just can't bring myself to tell people yet.
As the evening ended my friend who figured out my 'condition' cornered me in the kitchen and asked when I was going to tell people. I told her that I hadn't heard the heart beat and I was waiting for that before I announced to the world that my husband and I are recreating. She understood, having had a miscarriage herself, and gave me a hug and my first belly rub. "Oh! You are showing!" she exclaimed as she pulled her hand away. "Only a little, and when I wear lose shirts you can't tell" I replied. She just smiled sweetly and went on her way. Other people left, the evening came to a close, and I was faced with cleaning up. As I was washing dishes I thought about how my friend sitting on the couch had asked me what was happening and I told her I would tell her later. She didn't ask again why I was acting so strangely and we didn't have a moment alone to talk. I patted myself on the back for avoiding her scrutiny and was quite pleased that no one else had figured out that I was pregnant. Dodged that bullet!
A few minutes later the phone rang. It was my good friend, who didn't bother beating around the bush at all. What follows is a slightly edited edition of our conversation.
Her: So what is going on? Why were you two acting so strangely at dinner? You said you would tell me later, and we didn't get another chance to talk all night.
Me: Oh. Um. (Thinking: Crap! She wasn't supposed to remember this conversation!) Hi.
Her: Soooooo....
Me: Well! I'm pregnant! 13 weeks, but I am not telling people because I need to hear the heartbeat before I go yapping away about the baby in my belly.
Her: I KNEW IT! Congratulations!
Me: Thank you! But please, don't let anyone know. I don't want to spread the news yet.
Her: I figured you were pregnant last month at book group when you didn't drink then. By the way - you are totally showing.
Me: ........
We went on to talk a little more and then said goodnight. Later I was talking with Jim and mentioned that both of my friends commented on how I am showing. I then talked about how I can't be showing yet, I am only 13 weeks, people don't show until 16 weeks, and besides, we aren't telling people, I CAN'T be showing if we AREN'T telling people. Jim just nodded his head like a good husband does and replied 'Yes dear'. Then the light bulb went off and I looked at Jim 'I am totally in denial about showing aren't I? I don't want people to know, so I assume that they won't be able to tell anything is different about me.'
I have officially earned my nickname.
posted by Al at 2:54 PM
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