The Loaded Question August 27, 2009
Posted by Emily in : Daily Life, Medical School, My Handsome Husband, Thoughts , trackbackLoaded questions.
We’ve all been asked them.
For years, the question was, “When are you going to have kids?” Which was later followed by, “Do you want kids?” after we’d been married about six or seven years with no visit from the stork.
Today, the question is, “Where are you from?”
This question always makes me take a deep breath as I decipher what the person is really asking.
Are they asking where I’m currently from, where do I live, or where was I raised? Because they are all different.
It’s a straight forward question that does not merit a long and detailed explanation.
Usually.
Most people haven’t been living like a gypsy for the last several years.
But . . .
Since I never can tell if someone is simply exchanging pleasantries, or asking for a more detailed description of my roots, they usually get the the long, convoluted explanation with much more information than they ever wanted to know.
Most conversations go like this:
“Where are you from?
“Do you mean right now, where am I from? Are you referring to where my house and stuff are? Or are you talking about my permanent mailing address, or where I was raised?” (This is usually followed with big eyes from the questioner.)
“Are you guys in the Army?”
“Oh no, were in the other profession that makes you travel all over the world. Medical School.”
“Medical School?”
“Yeah. Medical school did this to us.” (Our experience is not typical . . . only a select few get to follow their husbands out of the country, and from state to state for clinical rotations.)
The thing is, David and I have really enjoyed living in different parts of the country, and living outside the country. Our experiences have been rich. We have met so many wonderful people along our way, and we love so many things about different parts of the United States.
The follow-up question to “Where are you from?” is usually “Where do you want to end up?”
Again, for most people, this answer is easy.
For us, we simply have no idea. I mean, we do have our limits like not pursuing a residency in Alaska or any other state that has cold/cooler weather nine to 12 months out of the year, but other than that, we’re open.
The only thing we can decide on is the style of house we like.
We like this house.
A lot.
You can’t really tell in the picture, but this house takes up an entire block. The brick fence is very majestic.
It is still up in the air as to what size of town we want to settle into, (rural, suburban, or a downtown area) and what region of the USA we’d like to put down roots, but at least we know the style of house we want, right?
Comments»
Hey, when your life is THAT up in the air, it’s nice to know that you can plan on at least ONE thing.
Emily -
It is so good to ‘hear’ that you are doing well! I love you tons. I was just talking to Stephanie Hamilton last week and you came up… I think it was her sister that might have stayed at your home with your sister (at some point) – the conversation got a little fuzzy… or maybe I just had to pay attention to one of my little ones!
BUT, we are back (for now at least) in Texas… and yes, I have to agree… the life of a gypsy is adventuresome – I am sure that you are handling it very well and that all who meet you are instant fans!
I love the pictures of the canal and and Palmayra. My cute husband and I are planning to take our children there… and he doesn’t know it… but I think we’ll all be in the pageant together too! I’ll have to tell him at some point.
We love you!