Comparing

I think human beings can't help but make comparisons. Sometimes, it's useless: Like my mom and millions of other moms always said "Someone will always be better off than you and someone will always have it worse."

Sometimes, making comparisons can be destructive such as when it leaves siblings envious of each other and sure that "Mom always liked you best!" (Remember the Smothers Brothers?)

But sometimes making comparisons is downright fun. I can't be the only person who remembers the fun of comparing scars with a new boyfriend. Comparing recipes and family traditions with friends is fun, often because of the differences it reveals. And I love comparing my experiences in 12 years of Catholic schools with others who went to Catholic school, because of the amazing similarities it reveals. ("Yes! We did that, too!")

I'm looking forward to comparing my Darby Short Stuff to her mom.  In this case making comparisons will be downright fun and downright amazing because of the circumstances that allowed it to happen!

Mother and Child Reunion

A Mother and Child Reunion will be taking place this Sunday afternoon at our house!

Wendy and Mike will be bringing Bryn (Darby's mama) and Dinah out for a visit!

(I wish I could say I so cleverly thought of that title--Mother and Child Reunion--but I shamelessly stole it from Mike who said in an email that the Paul Simon song had been running through his head all day!)

We still can't believe that we actually met.  Mike said:  "Wendy and I still marvel at yesterday's meeting, the more so when I think about all that had to fall into place for it to occur."

I agree! It is amazing!  I didn't write about this in my already-very-long post yesterday, but I probably would never have met Wendy and Mike if my dentist's receptionist hadn't made a mistake.

It's another long story:

Once a month, I meet a friend for breakfast before we both go to work.  We were supposed to meet on Thursday,  March 4th, but I had been out of the office on March 1st and 2nd and had a morning dentist appointment on the 3rd, so I asked my friend if we could reschedule our breakfast to Thursday the 11th--I didn't want to come in to work late on two of the only three days I worked that week!  (I have a very flexible schedule and a very understanding boss, but still...) 

So, I showed up for my dentist appointment, but it turns out the appointment is for March 30th, not March 3rd!  The receptionist failed to write a "0" after the "3" on my appointment card!  It was too late/too complicated to change breakfast dates with my friend who is the very busy working mom of 3 year-old twins, so I left things as they had been re-arranged and we met for breakfast yesterday. 

(I told you this was a long story!)

I'm usually out of the office and on my way home by 4:00 but on mornings when I have breakfast with my friend, I come in later, so I stay later in the afternoon.  Yesterday,  I met Wendy and Mike at 4:15 -- long after I would have been gone if my dentist's receptionist hadn't written the wrong date on my appointment card!

Isn't it amazing to think of how one little thing like a missing "0" can make such a difference?  Such a happy difference!

Here's what the Darbs looked like about the time her mama last saw her:

Here's what she looks like now:

I wonder if mother and child will recognize each other at their reunion?

Buddy and Sammy are going to be sooo envious!

Buddy and Sammy are going to be soooo envious of Darby!

Guess who Darby gets to meet one day very, very soon?

Take a look at this photo and see if you can guess:

Yes, those are two very, very cute Cardigan Welsh Corgi's.  But, one of them is extra special.

Still can't guess who she is?  Look a closer look:

Notice the freckles on her nose?  Do they remind you of anyone--like maybe Darby?

Those freckles belong to Darby's mother--Coedwig's Temptation Flirt "Bryn" who I had the pleasure of meeting just this afternoon!

It's a long story...

My co-worker, on her way to another building, called to say there were two corgis who "look just like Darby" outside our building.  I was so busy that at first I almost didn't go, but, I'm running low on blog fodder, so I grabbed my phone and my keys and ran downstairs.

A nice couple, about Glenn's and my age, were walking two lovely Cardigans.  I walked up to the woman and said hello.  She was surprised, as we Cardi owners always are, to hear I had two Cardis ("not pems") at home and we talked about them for a bit.  Wendy and her husband Mike are visiting San Diego from Portland, Maine and brought their two dogs with them.  I commented that Bryn looks very much like my pup and asked where she came from.  When Mike said Portland, Oregon I started getting excited.  Coedwigs?  Yes!  From Leda of Coedwigs!  Then one of them, I forgot which one, said Bryn's registered name is Coedwig's Temptation Flirt--and I couldn't believe what I had heard!  I could barely get the words out:  "Your Bryn is my Darby's mother! 

Can you believe it?  We couldn't!  What are the chances that they would be walking by my office building, my co-worker would happen to see them and call me?  What wonderful luck!

So, we exchanged telephone numbers and, if all works out, they will be coming over to our house this weekend so Bryn and Darby can see each other again.

Of course, I'll have my camera ready and will tell you all about it in words and pictures!

I still can't believe it--can you?

P.S.  I feel badly for forgetting the name of Wendy's and Mike's other dog--she sure is a pretty one, too!

UPDATE:  Buddy-boy, just for you I am adding the following photo so you can get a slightly better look at the toe freckleage you have in common with your mama.

Freckles

I love freckles

Especially ones on knees.*

* OK. So that looks like a knee to me, but I'm sure someone is going to tell me it is an ankle, or a hock or some such thing. No matter--I like the freckles on it!

Uh-oh! She caught me!

So, I'm quietly taking photos of Darby lying on her back as only short legged dogs can do so well,

and she caught me!