The story

So my friend Erin very nicely reminded me that it's been a little over a month since my last post. Whoops! Ever since going private, I have really slacked on the blogging. It's really weird. When you're public, it shows up on people's blog rolls that you've posted something new so people check out the blog pretty quickly. You pretty much get an instant response to your blog. However, when you're private that stuff doesn't work. People forget to check your blog for a while and sometimes you'll have a post up for days before anyone will notice. I know I know.... lame excuse, but hearing what people think about what I posted is half the reason why I do this. So yeah, that's what I've been the major slacker.

But anyway, here's the best story posted about the leg picture:

Peggy and Reed said: "Actually I thought the JFK story* was FUNNY. But knowing Shane, he just wants to surprise you for Christmas. Do I dare tell you? It might ruin the surprise. He is making you one of those lamps. You know from the movie Christmas Story. He is trying to disquise it until it is done. It will have the fishnet stocking, the lamp and everything. He just put the man's pants and shoes on it to confuse you! Can't wait to see the finished product."

(*JFK story by Marlena: You bought the leg of JFK on ebay!!..Congatulations on your purchase!!!)

I just died when I read Peggy's post because literally just the night before Shane asked me, "What would you think if for christmas I got you a leg lamp -- you know, like the kind from A Christmas Story?" Of course I would think it was the greatest present of all time and then worship him as the all-time gift giving god. So yes, to my amusement I woke up the next morning and found that post by Peggy. Brilliant.

So here's the real story:

The kids and I had just arrived at the pool for Isabelle's swim lessons. We walked into the locker room to get Isabelle dressed when I stopped immediately after seeing THAT. I was so shocked at what I was seeing, that I couldn't move. It was so............... curious. Apprently it's not strange to young children to see a fully clothed bodiless leg, because the kids never even noticed. They were only upset that I wasn't moving them closer to the pool. At that point I faced a real dilemma: To take a picture or not take a picture. You see.... I HAD to have that picture. I NEEDED that picture. Yes, I did realize that it was horribly insensitive to take that picture.... but then again, when was I ever a sensitive person? When Kelly was 3 and wasn't paying attention while walking and walked straight into a stop sign really hard, I laughed hysterically for a good 15 seconds before noticing all the death stares people were giving me. I guess the screaming child should have been tended to first.

So you see? No history of sensitivity here. But there was a bigger problem at hand. Sure I could take the picture, but was the owner of said leg nearby? Would she hop out at just the moment that I was taking the picture and giggling to myself? How would I explain to two children why a one-legged lady was yelling at me? How would I explain that we were banned from the pool for life? Was it worth it? Obviously the answer in my mind was yes. And no, I wasn't caught. But I actually did end up meeting the one-legged lady later in the locker room. Nice lady. Not sure she'd be so nice though if she knew that I had a picture of her leg. Hmmmmm........ I just crossed that line of creepiness, didn't I?