Sometimes when I didn't understand what my Mom was saying, she'd say in disgust, "Clean out your ears!"
My phone doesn't make things any easier these days, either.
I was just talking with my daughter, who's concerned about her dad, who lives alone and is in the hospital.
She said, "Well, you know he's an island?"
Hmm, I thought, very intuitive and thoughtful of her to say that. I said, "Yes, I guess he is, isn't he?"
She asked, "You know he's an island?"
I answered, "Well, living alone like that would make him an island, wouldn't it?"
"MOM! I said he's an island...an ISLAND."
"I know, Jen...an island."
"MOTHER...I SAID he's in Thailand...I didn't say island."
I was thoroughly confused now, "WHO? WHO's in Thailand? I thought we were talking about your dad...how did he get way over to Thailand...I thought he was in Rochester. What's he doing there?"
Long pause.
"Mom?"
"Yes? Who are we talking about?"
"Dad...we're talking about dad, did you forget? He's an island, NOT and ISLAND! AND he's NOT in Thailand...what would he be doing there?? He's an ISLAND...island...Highland...HIGHLAND Hospital," muttering followed.
Me, "..oh."
"Clean out your ears!"
