I just got a new leg, which is awesome. It's a vacuum system rather than a pin lock system. I love it. It actually stays on, which is a plus, and it keeps up well.
Every year, my school sends all of the seniors off on a senior trip to a destination that the senior class votes on. This year, our school voted for Costa Rica! It was an amazing trip. We got to go see volcanos, trees, and a lot of gorgeous scenery. Hiking was easy with my new leg, and zip lining was great because my leg stayed on rather than falling off into the dark depths of the Costa Rican jungle. We ate a lot of rice and beans. Rice and beans with every single meal. Every. Single. Meal. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner....beans and rice all the time. Needless to say, I have not eaten rice or beans since I've gotten back two weeks ago.
After a week of fun, it was finally our last day. We had the choice to either go white water rafting or to a private island and go beaching. Living in Texas, the only beach I have ever been to is Galveston, which is basically a dumping ground of many surrounding waters. The water in Galveston is grayish brownish green and nasty, while the waters in Costa Rica are clear and blue! So of course, I chose beach day. Besides, you can white water raft in the U.S.
My friend, Ashleigh, and I were looking for something to do. We decided that we wanted to bury another friend, Hutson in the sand. We started searching for him, but he had completely disappeared. We could not find him whatsoever. Finally, we spotted him by some hammocks. On our way over there, we were cut off my a rather large woman.
"Oh, you're having a much better time with your leg than I am with mine!" she says
Of course, I did a quick scan to see if this woman was an amputee. She wasn't. She did have on a knee brace or something, so fair enough. Oh, and by the way. This woman was from some other country. I could not pick out the accent she had. But then she goes on.
"Oh but yours is completely gone! Choppity chop! My friend has both of her legs amputated at her hip! Choppity choppity chop!"
At this point, I am thinking..."What." I mean, I'm really chill and relaxed about my amputation and making amputee jokes. I really am. But this was so...out there that I didn't know what to say! She goes on talking to Ashleigh and I for a long time, saying "Choppity chop!" about six more times. Then it got a bit creepy.
"Anyway, want to go for a swim?" she asks
Praise the Lord for my dear Ashleigh. She immediately says "Oh look!! A baby pig!" We turned around, and sure enough, there was a baby boar and his mommy walking around on the beach. After this diversion, we start trying to escape this awkward conversation. But she asks us again. "Want to go for a swim?" She seemed rather eager, which was not too comfortable. I know this woman meant well, but I didn't know her, and I wasn't about to go swimming in the ocean with a stranger who seemed to have an obsession over my leg. I had to say something....I couldn't just avoid her again.
So I said "Oh, you know, I would love to, but we are actually looking for someone!"
"Oh, who?!" (Umm...creepy.)
"I'm looking for my....brother."
Now I don't have a brother. But if I say "I'm looking for a friend" it doesn't sound as eager, and it makes it seem obvious I'm trying to avoid her. So I just made it sound like it was more urgent by saying I had to find my brother. Besides, Hutson and I could easily pass for siblings.
"Oh! Your brother! Is he an amputee too?" Because apparently, amputated limbs are genetic. It can be, but not in this case.
"No! He's my....half brother. But yeah...I have to search for him. But thanks for the offer! Maybe we will see you around!"
She finally relinquished us. We found Hutson a few seconds later, and made our request to bury him.
He said yes.
