It’s a whole, proper humanity out there and you get to discover it when sporting a baby bump. Here’s the kind of stuff that keeps happening:
- Your local Korean bodega night-shifter (who may or may not remind you of your dad), insists you eat a lot of watermellon and says stuff like “Oooooh Baby Party.” (In the past, after buying large quantities of beer, he started with “Oooooh Big Party;” then, to your joy, he ventured further into “Oooooh Paper Party” as you’re purchasing toilet and other papers; “Oooooh Cat Party” for cat litter and food late-night emergencies; and so on). He also might be one of those rare stranger-people that will instinctively grab your belly with both of his maimed hands and you will NOT mind in the least. (As a sidenote, I do not - yet - have strangers on the street reaching for the belly, so not really sure if I’d be ok with the practice.)
- Duane Reade employees not only smile, a huge feat in and of itself, but also offer to get various items from the shelves for you, snarl at people who cut in line before you, and insist you start drinking your water before they ring you up.
- Street fruit vendors give you a free banana here and there. They smile.
- Grumpy, do-rag wearing inner city boys eagerly get up for you in the subway, still holding on to their cool. They just might move the corner of their lips for you.
- Moms of all colors (all but white– what up with sticks in our buts?) kindly talk about parenting and how it’s the best thing ever. They are ear to ear in smiles, a true joy shows there.
- Farmer’s market sellers engage you in conversations about nutrition. With a smile.
- Cashiers, elevator co-riders, co-workers knowingly nod in the direction of your belly. Some ask how far along, most smile.
Most people enjoy guessing (correctly) the gender of the baby and I have yet to have anyone profer unwanted advice.
Here’s to people!