D: The Dummy and the Department of Defense

Over the past few months I’ve spent most weekends at my parents’ house, which is where I grew up.  Each week, I read their Sunday newspaper.  It’s a small town.  There is usually a story or two that interests me.  A few weeks ago while sitting with my dad and sister in the living room…

Me:  Hey; there’s an article in here about two girls that I graduated with from high school.

Them:  Oh yeah, who?

Me:  You wouldn’t know them.  We weren’t friends.

Them:  Well, then why should we care?

Me:  Because the article makes me feel like a dumb idiot, that’s why.

Them:  You are a dumb idiot, Tracy.  Just joking – har har.   What’s it say?

Me:  I’m not sure, exactly.  It uses words that I’ve never seen before.

Them:  Then stop talking about it.

Me:  I can’t.  I need to know what these words mean.

Them:  What words?

Me.  I can’t even pronounce them.  Dad, you were in the Navy.  What’s the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command?  And, what, exactly, are  counter…  ahh, counter-in-surgency tactics?

Silence.

Me:  Dad, where is the Northwest Frontier Province of Pakistan…exactly?

Dad:  I don’t know.  I thought you were reading about your girlfriends.  I mean, not your friends…the girls from your school who weren’t your friends.

Me:  They were twins, Dad.  And, according to “Business News,” they went to school in Moscow…and Scotland…and wrote important papers that are culminating in things I can’t pronounce.  And, they are working on projects that involve nuclear proliferation.  It says they both work for the Department of Defense. Oh, and one of the them is married to a Doctor.  It doesn’t say what kind, but there’s a Dr. in front of his name.

Sister:  At my job I get yelled at for forgetting to put catsup on the salad bar.  Dad, doesn’t that make you feel so proud?   Maybe you should call the paper and report that to Business News. 

Me:  Dad?  Dad?  Dad!  Are you listening to us?

Dad:  Yes girls.  Ahh…no, not really.  You are both smart.  Now turn up the TV, the news is coming on….

I’ve written before about comparisons.  Sometimes comparisons are healthy, and sometimes they aren’t.  There is always going to be someone out there who appears to be smarter than you, more attractive, thinner, faster, stronger, or better at something.  I’ve got news for you – there are supposed to be.  We are all unique, and talented, and gifted in our own ways. 

I don’t speak any language but English.  I don’t know much about global security.  I’ve never assessed Russian counterintelligence operations.  But, that doesn’t make me a dummy.  I’m smart.  I could learn those things if I wanted to…cause they’ve got books for that, ya know.

Time to brag.  What talent or trait do you have, or accomplishment have you made, or blog post that you’ve written, that you’re most proud of?  Brag away using the comments link above.

Remember to check back tomorrow for another A-Z Challenge post, inspired by the letter E.

If you liked this post, you may also like There’s No Comparison.