TMI much???

WARNING: This post will be a little.... "PG."

Dave says I have a "gift." And you will see he doesn't mean it as a compliment when I tell you what he's referring to. I think he means to say it's actually a "curse."

People tell me stuff. Intimate stuff. TMI stuff. We haven't come to a totally valid conclusion as to why this is, yet. But we think it's because I am really open and honest, even when people have known me for a very brief time. I would like to think it makes them feel comfortable around me. Maybe they feel they can share things because they think I won't judge them....? That, and I seem to lack some sort of censor.

I'm working on that. I swear.

Part of it is because I'm a woman. And we are chatty and nosy and meddlesome. But I don't just come home with information re: who's dating who, etc. I come home with information about people's medical history or dysfunctional families or their criminal records.

I'm not kidding.

The reason I am sharing this today, though, is because I had to take Malia to the ER and I had a conversation with a woman in the waiting room that just boggled my mind. (P.S. Malia is totally fine). The thing is, this woman doesn't know me from Adam. And I really don't feel like I left her the opening I usually seem to unintentionally leave for people when they decide to regurgitate their life stories or confess their sins to me. I was shocked at how quickly the conversation with this complete stranger went from casual to... well, you'll see.

The discourse went as follows:

Lady: Oh, poor baby. What happened?

Me: We were at the grocery store. She slipped and fell and hit her head on some boxes. Normally it'd be no big deal, but it bled a lot, and I could see it was split. It might not be anything, really, but I don't have any boys, so I haven't had a lot of practice with these things. The wound was just really deep. We went to Urgent Care, but I told them I'd like to avoid stitches so she doesn't scar, and they didn't have any of that glue, so they sent me here.

Lady: I have three boys and a daughter. I was in the ER monthly.

Me: Oh, I'm sure! And they probably played sports, too, which must've made it worse.

Lady: No. Actually, my 2nd son, who was the least athletic, was the most accident prone.

Me: Isn't that funny?

Lady: Yeah. One time he totally ripped open his balls.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!!!!!!!!! Not to mention she said this to me without batting an eyelash as my innocent 5-year-old sits on my lap! She then continued to tell me how it happened - of which I will spare you the details - but PLEASE tell me that this is not normal. And please tell me how to avoid having people think I want that kind of information for next time....