One of the things that has greatly annoyed me over the years is when the person cleaning my teeth continually tries to engage me in a conversation. Seriously, I cannot respond to a question when their hands are in my mouth! You think they would know this. It's one of those times when silence is really, truly alright. Oh, but no, they just chatter, chatter, chatter.
This time though I ended up with a totally different perspective on the entire thing.
So, "R" did the standard cleaning and x-rays, all the while talking to me. I responded as best I could with the usual annoyance settling in. I know a few things about R because he's cleaned my teeth for 2 years now (I always get the new people, probably because I'm fairly low maintenance). He's a super nice guy but I feel like an Amazon woman around him. He's 4 or 5 inches shorter than I am and I just tower over him. We discovered we went to the same high school about the same time. He's a few years older than me. I have also learned he's Roman Catholic. There are a few other tidbits I've learned about him over the years.
But then it happened. I finished the fluoride treatment and while we waited for the doctor to come do the 2 minute check up, R asked me if I came from a big family. I said yes because I think a family with 5 kids is big these days. So I told him I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters and then asked if he had a big family. He said "yeah, I have 9 sisters and 10 brothers." Real casual like too. I think my jaw dropped open and then I asked what I thought was the next logical question..."from the same parents?" He said "yes. My parents were married until the day my dad died." WOW. I was so flabbergasted. Who has 20 kids?
I asked him the age range and he thought for a second. With that many of course he would have to! He said the youngest is 40, the oldest 60. HOLY COW! Not only 20 kids but in 20 years? Yep, one a year for 20 years. His mother was essentially pregnant from 18 to 38. He then told me his mom is 78 and she does pretty well but does have osteoporosis. The doctors have told her it's because she had so many kids close together that it took too much calcium from her bones. Well, don't you imagine it did?
Then he shared how the previous weekend he'd helped her can tomatoes and they all have a love of gardening they got from their dad. They always had a huge garden because it helped feed the family. Of course it did. How else could a person afford that?
Then I asked the next logical question..."how many bathrooms were in your house?" He said, "oh, just one." ONE?!?! YIKES! Then he said, "well, we weren't all in the house at the same time. The most living there at one time was 14 plus my parents." Oh, you're right, that is so much better. Apparently they staggered their wake time to help with this. Can. Not. Imagine.
He further told me how his childhood home had burned to the ground and he has plans to buy the lot from his mom because it's been empty for years and he's going to put a house on it. And his mom makes the best homemade tortillas you've ever tasted. At least he thinks so. He's probably right too. Since Steve and I absolutely LOVE Mexican food, we talked about great Mexican restaurants in the area and not so great too. He's an expert of sorts, because he grew up on the authentic stuff made from Mexican parents.
It was at this point I realized that rather than be annoyed by the chatter while having my teeth cleaned, I should be delighted at the opportunity to develop a relationship with this man. Not a weird relationship mind you, just an avenue to get to know him and "give an answer to him who asks me to give the reason for the hope that I have" (1 Peter 3:15).
Opportunities all around me with people I interact with regularly and up to now I've largely missed it. "No more" is my prayer.
2 comments:
Wow! What an interesting family! They should've had a show on TLC too. Have you ever seen the Duggers? I can't imagine sharing one bathroom with so many people! I guess I was spoiled! I like being in a small family. Noise drives me a bit crazy, and I think it's because I grew up in such a quiet family. I bet that guy can handle any level of activity or noise no problem!
I haven't seen that show Lindsay. Then again, we don't have cable so...I guess we might a lot these days!
You know, I grew up in a big family but don't remember loud chaos. It was probably there I'm just not so sure! I, too, like the quiet of just Steve and I in our house. Tonya thinks my house is too quiet, I think hers is "drive me to insanity" noisy!
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