Aunt Flo's been here for 4 days, and by yesterday, my nerves were frayed. I didn't realize how touchy I was until I stopped in at a drugstore, to buy some Cold-eeze for the Professor. As I walked by the checkout counter, the checker, a handsome young man, asked me, in a British accent, how the game was going. I had no idea, but we got into an interesting chat, about teams, and he told me his favorite team was one I'd never heard of. He laughed and told me they were a soccer team. ( Brits call soccer football. ) I found the Cold-eeze, and took them back to him to buy them, and we continued chatting about the different names Brits have for things. I learned that a " lory " was a truck. Then, suddenly, as people got in line behind me, he dropped the British accent. I had made a comment about being able to pick up when a Brit is doing an American accent, and I thought he was doing that to show off, so I told him it was really good. But as I walked away, I felt that I'd been had. By the time I got to my car, I felt really stupid. Later when I went back to get some pix I had dropped off, I heard him speaking just like me, and then I knew I'd been had. I suppose he was bored, and put on the accent for his own entertainment, but it really burned my hiney. I told the Professor about it, and he thought it was funny. Still I felt " had; " really stupid. Now that I think of it, it is funny.

I wonder why I'm so sensitive about looking stupid. I know I've always respected those " gifted " kids that got to leave class for their special " enrichment " class. I remember wishing I was so smart. I know that was a major reason I was attracted to the Professor. I'm really glad that my kids are smart; I feel that they have an advantage in life. I wish I could just accept myself. I'm smart enough. I like to play games, and be active, and be with people. Isn't that enough? Do I have to understand nuclear physics to be acceptable? How did I come to see super-smart folk as superior to me? Hmmm...