Strangers

Anyone who knows me well knows I'm generally not kind to strangers. Some people just give off the "friendly and approachable" vibe and are followed and talked to by strangers everywhere they go. You know who you are (Lauren...Melissa). However, I generally must give off a please-don't-mess-with-me vibe, b/c strangers usually avoid me...until I became visibly pregnant, that is.

People have warned me that my belly somehow magically would become public property as a result of pregnancy, and that little old ladies, curious pedestrians and bums alike would be stretching out their germy hands to cop a feel. Luckily, this hasn't happened - thank goodness! However, while they aren't touching me -- they are asking me questions. A lot. And commenting on my belly. A lot. It's as if just because a woman is visibly pregnant, the whole world has the right to offer unsolicited advice and/or play 20 questions with you. A few examples:

On a recent roadtrip, a convenience store attendant blurted out "That's my favorite part about pregnancy...when the belly button pops out..." at me. Nice. Yes, my belly button sticks out (and has for the last 6 months), but it was interesting that she felt close enough to me after watching me waddle to and from her restroom to comment audibly to me about it.

I had my 10-year high school reunion on Saturday night, and if I had a dollar for every time someone said "Whoa, you are seriously pregnant, are you due tomorrow," I'd have a college fund set up for buddy already. (And for those keeping track, I still have 4 weeks to go.)

The kitchen staff of the restaurant in the lobby of my office likes to shout questions at me as I exit the parking garage while they're on their smoke breaks -- anything from "And what are we having?" (boy or girl) to "When's the big day?"

It's interesting how pregnancy gives strangers a vote of confidence to comment on your appearance. I don't walk up to people saying "Holy cow, that's some blonde hair," or shout "Excuse me, when's your birthday" to random people across the street...but heck, maybe I should start. :) I know people are just finding a common link and trying to be nice, but for an introvert like me, it's startling to be called out so often and exhausting to make conversation with strangers.

I'd say I'm almost past the line of questioning from strangers, but I know what's next...guarding my buddy from germy strangers' grasps in the grocery store, church, etc. I'm buying stock in hand sanitizer and hoping for the best.