Tuesday 24 March 2009

Perfect timing

Sometimes you really could just do without certain events.

Events that in another place or time would just be another odd or funny story to tell, but in the moment they occur they set the mind racing and the tummy butterflies fluttering.

Let's pick an random unsuspecting person. Let's say, er, off the top of my head... a woman desperately trying to conceive, and somewhat vulnerable to emotional extremes thanks to fertility drugs.

Let's call her ET, just for a laugh.

ET was making her way in home last night, and while walking towards our house she overtook a woman walking with a cane or a crutch. They exchanged 'good evenings' and ET walked on ahead, up to our front door.

Now, our neighbours are not the warmest bunch of people you will ever meet. In almost two years we have only ever spoken to the people living directly on either side, so ET was surprised to hear herself being beckoned back out to the footpath by this unfamiliar hobbling woman, who had by then reached our front gate.

Once the usual exchange over what language should be spoken was done with, the woman proceeded to ask ET three questions.

-Do you live here?
-Yes

-Are you married?
-Yes

and then:

-Do you have any children?
-No

At which point the old woman reached into her purse, took out some money, pressed it into ET's hand, and said 'Well then, I will pray for you tonight'.

With that, she turned and shuffled up the street in the dusk.

Seriously woman, are you auditioning for Macbeth or something?

The probability is that the poor woman just reads the blog, or we need to be a bit more consistent closing the bedroom curtains from time to time, but either way the end result was the same, a somewhat freaked out wife.

It's a good thing ET had another dose of Clomid ready just to settle those nerves, eh?



50 comments:

Liz said...

Does this mean, if it works, I'm going to have to come over and wonder round Amsterdam looking a little lost and upset until an crone bestows a lucky, shiny penny on me?

Anonymous said...

Yeah, that is a little bit weird. Kind of cool though.

Anonymous said...

Scoff if you must. This could be the break you have been waiting for!

Anonymous said...

The universe works in mysterious ways?

Or

You need to shut the curtains.

Anonymous said...

It's a sign! She knew once she prayed for ET you guys are going to need the money!

It's gotta be a sign.

Anonymous said...

What the?

Can you send that lady over to me?? ;)

It would really freak me out though if it happend to me!

Anonymous said...

Wow!

Well it sounds benevolent enough, the more good thought the better eh! :)


And... close the curtains! :P

'Murgdan' said...

That is very very strange...

*starts to try and appear as infertile as possible and look for little old women with canes.

Sarah said...

Aha! I TOLD you it was kind of cool and I knew I wasnt going to be the only one that wanted an old hag to force money into my hand and pray for me to have babies!

Foster Mama said...

If it works then I'll send you postage and you can mail her here. :)

Ms. Moon said...

I've had experiences like this. No. Really. I think we all have.
Some sort of confluence of forces, disparate and powerful.
Yeah. This is good.

Ed said...

That's a bit freaky.

Jo said...

She gave the money back, though, refused the gift.
I think that breaks the magic.

Martin said...

@womb for improvement - Or a crisp ten euro note, whichever.

@Ali - Depends on what happens I suppose!

@Tracey - Er, no. The IUI is the break we were waiting for.

@Veronica - I'm thinking curtains.

@Angel - A sign we need to move!

@Edith - You're just shocked a Dutch woman gave away money!
;-)

@Elfinamsterdam - I like the idea of her praying, nice thing to do for a stranger.

@'Murgdan' - yep, odd, veryu much so.

@Sarah - I never said hag!

@mrsmiller2007 - Deal!

@Ms. Moon - We all have indeed, timing is just weird though.

@Ed - Just a bit!

@jothemama - Thanks, that's reassuring...

Unknown said...

How much money did she give, and at what shop do you buy children?

Anonymous said...

hahahahahaha

You got me! ;)

Karen MEG said...

Money and a baby wish? Wow, that's amazing...a bit freaky, but still amazing!

WhatAboutNovember said...

Good thing. Thank goodness for that calming Clomid...

..al said...

OMG! You know, medicines or no medicines, the issue of children can bring out the tears anytime. I am so glad that you were there for ET. Actually, people don't think that asking about children is a very personal issue. And for infertiles, even genuine bonafide intentions of others can get interpreted wrong.

Korie said...

Meh, Holland is full of crazy super relgious protestants I thought. Old religious people can be a little creepy, but hey some extra pocket change for a bitterball and frieten can be a nice thing. :)

Making Babies said...

That lady is going to do a round the world trip, I'm sure she will enjoy coming to Africa!!! LOL

Cool but weird..... :)

Jane G said...

You should move back home to Ireland. Then you would have hoards of mad ould wans praying for you.

Lorna said...

so, if things do work out this month, you won't know whether it's the old woman's prayers or the medical treatment (mind you, you won't care either). I've a friend from Austria who's mum got some 'magic' woman to pray or do something along those lines for her and she did get pregnant, albeit not straightaway- who knows!

Anonymous said...

That's AWESOME! Go, crone!

Wait, if this works, do you have to name the baby after the old lady?

Agnes Ethel Nappy Rash. That's lovely.

(BTW, the only 2 people I know who took Clomid, both got pregnant on their first cycle after starting the injections. Hmmm.)

Jenni said...

that's just plain nosey. and creepy.

Anonymous said...

Hey - now you're not out the 40 cents for the syringes, right? Score!

(and just for the record, where the hell was this old woman two years ago, dammit?!?!?)

AnnD said...

That's so weird that it might just be....I dunno...the person whose prayers can make a difference. Some do say that God puts angels on earth in unsuspecting forms...

Anonymous said...

I'm with the curtains shut brigade! Still, a few extra prayers can't hurt can they.

Anonymous said...

Hey man, don't mock the power of a crone. lol

Anonymous said...

ET is a better person than I. If such event happened to me I would probably take the old bats cane and use it on her. My husband and I have been TTC for over 5 years and am waiting at the moment for a positive pregnancy test or getting ready for our next IUI. It has been an emotional roller coaster for us and for a stranger to ask such questions..umm I would have lost it. I love your blogs. Thanks to you my husband has male support. Also, your blogs help me understand my husband.

Malky B. said...

Wow this could be a good sign!

Kori said...

If it works, you need to send ET over to find her so you can name your firstborn after her!

James (SeattleDad) said...

Very strange. If that actually works will you write it up in the Times?

I sure hope ET is feeling better, as that must have really screwed with her head.

Anonymous said...

That is beyond random.

Anonymous said...

At least she didn't ask for change.

Putz said...

the three questions...are you an alien???....do you live on the planet ziob????do you have alien children????could you use 8 kiabec from ziob?????

Anonymous said...

the forces of the cosmos are aligning nicely I see............. lmao

Anonymous said...

Whoa. That is just...weird, but in a good way. Sometimes the message comes via the most unlikely messenger. I think it's a good sign. She may be the lady who will collect my 20 bucks for me.

Anonymous said...

Weird. What are you supposed to do with the money?!?

Proseaholics said...

Better money than coughing phlegm onto her palm dontcha think?

River said...

The old woman may very well be an Angel and the prayer might just work..........Stranger things have happened.

Martin said...

@goonerjamie - Not enough, trust me.

@Edith - Buitenlanders eh?

@Karen MEG - very odd indeed.

@WhatAboutNovember - hehehe.

@WiseGuy - Yes, the timing of it was just unsettling, any other time we would have laughed it off.

@Lilacspecs - We used to get wee prayers put in our letter box in our old place!

@Making Babies - Crone on tour!

@Jane G - no comment...

@Lorna - If it works I'm pretty certain it will be the drugs and the insemination...just a hunch ;-)

@prayingtodarwin - I shudder to think what her name actually is, some odd ones around here.

@Jenni - ;-)

@Bonnie B. - she has financed 25 syringes!

@AnnD - well, we just have to wait and see.

@bsouth - all are welcome.

@CableGirl - CronePower!

@LaDonnaKaye - Thank you, I'm glad ye get something out of it, although I do hope for your sake that your husband isnt TOO much like me...
Best of luck with that positive.

@Malky B. - could indeed!

@Kori - she lives a few door down and uses a crutch, I think we could track her down...

@James - I know their standards have dropped lately but I doubt they want to print that ;-)

@Christa - Exactly!

@Hockeyman - She'd have been outta luck...

@Putz - You crazy bastard! thats the best comment in ages!

@Mistress B - we said we were calling in the big guns!

@NukeDad - Heh, good luck on getting that!

@Amy - buy vodka?

@Monty's Python - is that an Indian thing?

@River - OR...she might be a nutter from down the street.
But true, you never know!

A Free Man said...

Well the money at least. I mean, these are tough times.

Anonymous said...

you have a fairy godmother now. but what was the money for? the clomid?

IrishNYC said...

Odd. But perhaps a sign!

Reg said...

That's crazy! I thought I was the only weird one that strange old women made insane comments to. Just wait until you're pregnant and the crazy lurkers come out to touch ET's belly... That's when it starts to get really fun.

Susanica said...

I'm starting to believe you make this stuff up X box. Very funny story.

Oh, and I like the new color scheme for your site. In some odd way it's like you're telling the red menace that she's no longer running the show now that she otherwise occupied as your font color. Eww...that is suddenly a very icky image. Sorry. ;-)

Martin said...

@A Free Man - Free cash off a Dutch person, is genuinely something...

@geeksinrome - I don't dare to think what it was intended for!

@IrishNYC - OR...just odd ;-)

@Reg - it'll be me driving her nuts then.

@Susanica - On my miserable life I swear its the honest truth.

Proseaholics said...

Technically, it's a pygmy thing.

But that's cause they don't use money.

Dondi Tiples said...

Wow. If she were my neighbor I'd chat her up a bit more, see how much money she'd give to this charity case - me.