If you laugh at this, your soul might suffer...

The following is a 100% true story:

My Dad works with this lady in Overland Park that takes care of her 20-something, mentally handicapped nephew.  While at work last week she got a call from him that went something like this:

Nephew: Aunt ___ you have to come home, right now!
Aunt: Why? What happened?
Nephew: I caught a troll!
Aunt: What? What are you talking about?
Nephew: I caught a TROLL!

Naturally, the Aunt just assumed that he was playing around or was somewhat confused so she said she'd just see it when she got home after work.  However, the nephew was so insistent that she come home that she decided she better go see what all the fuss was about.  She told her Supervisor something had come up at home and left work early that day.

When she arrived home, there were a few police cars there and she started to get worried.  She spoke to one in the yard and, after confirming who she was to the 20-year old man, the police told her what happened.

Brace yourself...

Apparently, a Census worker was in her neighborhood that day and stopped by her home.  That man just happened to be a little person; a midget.  Her nephew answered the door and was immediately confused.  He thought he was looking at "a troll."  He grabbed the poor guy and locked him in a closet until the police arrived.

People, for the love of all that is holy, fill out your Census.


PS - The police were able to convince the man not to press charges by reminding him that, if he did, he'd be on the news as "the troll who's suing a mentally handicapped man." 

PPS - Just so you know...my soul is toast.

Life IS like a Box of Chocolates...

Well my boss has been gone on Vacay for the past week so I've had some free time on my hands.  To fill this time, I took to reading all my past Facebook messages and my old Blog entries on Xanga.  All of them. I know, I need a life.

Anyway, I just wanted to say that it was a very eye-opening experience and, if you have anything like that (old blog, old letters, old diary, old messages), I recommend taking the time to go through them.  It is amazing how much your life can change in just a few short years.  Things I never would've imagined happening to me have and things I could've sworn would happen, haven't.  Situations that I used to stress over now seem to be so stupid.

But the thing that struck me the most was the relationships I've had over the years.  People I would've sworn would be a part of my life forever have fallen (or been pushed) away.  Most of them were not intentional by any means.  It's perfectly natural to lose touch with someone when you haven't seen them in a few years.  You grow in different ways and don't have the same things in common anymore.  A few months ago, I got to spend some time with some of the girls I used to hang out with in high school.  It was a blast to talk about "back then" but it was also pretty apparent that we had all gone in different directions since, and now had our own, different lives. We had a good time reliving some of the fun and not-so-fun moments we had in high school but, other than the occasional "Happy Birthday" Facebook comment, I haven't spoken to any of them since.  But that's not a bad thing.  Like I said, we've moved on.

However, some of the relationships in our lives fall away because of carelessness.  While reading my old Xanga and all those messages, I realized I had more of those than I originally thought.  And it's kinda put me in a little funk.  I did quite a bit of smiling and LOLing at some of the comments and messages I received from people that used to be my closest friends but, now that I'm done, I'm sort of left with this weird void.  Unfortunately, I don't speak to those people anymore.  And unfortunately, it's not because they've just "fallen away."  Some of them I pushed away for good reason but some for what I only thought was good reason.  Either way, I really miss those friends.  And, if any of you happen to read this, I'm sorry if I hurt you.

Even though I know this post seems a little emo, please believe me when I say that I am not bitter.  Or sad.  I definitely miss those friends, but I also had a surge of joy, especially reading all those old blog posts and seeing how far I've come in the past 5 or so years.  I have the best husband anyone could wish for, a pretty good life and a great future ahead of me.  I really am very blessed.

I will tell you one thing though:  If I'm ever again asked the question, "Where do you see yourself in 5 (or 10) years?"  I'm not going to answer.  :)

Blessings,
Mandy