One of my favorite movies of all time, and not merely during the holidays, is a Christmas Carol starring the one and only Alastair Sim. It is the production to which all others are compared. That said, there is a line in the movie that makes me cringe every time I see it. Fred, Scrooge’s nephew, is leaving after he invites his uncle to Christmas dinner, which he of course declines. It is the first time we hear the phrase, “Bah Humbug”.
As Fred puts on his winter-wear, he is talking to Bob Cratchit when he says, “…and the little one, the little lame boy…….” He is asking with all sincerity but it goes right through me every time I hear it. Not a name, not the youngest, not the cute one, no: but as if he is only known for being, “…the little lame boy’. Yeeech.
It’s right up there when I hear, “……..how’s her diabetes?” Like she was practicing for a school recital or like it’s her friend……which it’s not. Is it me or does that phrase just grate on your nerves? How do I answer that question? I have no idea. I usually say, “I don’t understand your question.” I say that because I really DO NOT understand their question.
The proof is that when I have asked that question back to the person, I have received many different answers.
“I mean is she getting closer to outgrowing it?”
“I mean is it in control yet?”
“I mean is she ever sick?”
“I mean is there anything new that will get rid of it?”
Huh?
Look, I get it, people are trying to be nice, they are trying to show they care….I understand all of that; but it does not change the fact that it irks me. Sometimes it is asked with such insincerity too, like Joey in the TV show Friends, “How you do’n?” I would rather, actually, be asked how she is doing than ‘her diabetes is doing’, like it was an additional member of the family.
I say that…………..knowing that sometimes it resides here like it is.
I am a diabetes dad.
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