A to Z, part 4

Okay, kids. Here it is. The next section. N through Q.

N-Noseyuk. A “noseyuk” (pronounced: nose-yuck—a term coined by my mother) was what a “booger” was called in our house growing up. The word “booger” was, in fact, on the banned list of words that were never to be uttered (along with stupid, stupidhead, dodo, shut up, and dummy). Imagine the social suicide I unknowingly committed as a kindergartner—my first real foray into the social world outside my family—when I declared that Adam D. picked his noseyuk and ate it.

The confused stares that met me were enough to quiet my accusation for the moment. It was somewhat traumatizing to discover there was a whole vocabulary out there that I now had to navigate. Fortunately, I’m a fast learner.

Obligation, Heightened Sense Of. My old roommate once informed me I have a heightened sense of obligation. When it comes to accepting invitations, attending others’ activities, saying yes to needy people, it doesn’t occur to me that declining is a real and viable option. I’ve debated back and forth as to whether or not I’m grateful for this inherent (learned?) trait or annoyed by it.

P-Peter. When I was in graduate school, one of my clinical assignments was to do therapy with a 4-year-old boy with high-functioning autism. He was a bright kid, but missed the social nuances of conversation, humor, and language. Our therapy sessions were filled with activities to increase his understanding of emotions, prepositions, and other –tions. One day, I went to pick him up in the waiting room of the clinic and someone referred to me by my whole name. He looked up at me, very serious, and said quietly, “You are Katy Cabbage.” I nodded and said that he was right. After a short pause he finished his thought, “And I….am Peter Tomato.”

Q- Quills. In seventh grade, I did a report on porcupines and my dad went to the garage and used his Shopsmith to make me two imitation porcupine quills. I still have them.