Are you pregnant?

The definitive answer is no. I haven’t been pregnant for more than 16 years (my daughter turned 16 in January). However, when I wear a puffer vest or coat, I often get offered a seat on the subway. It happened yesterday. In the past, this would annoy me. But not today. I would try to say “thanks, not thanks” in hand jesters that never worked.

Yesterday as I sat down in the seat, I closed my eyes and said to myself, “Let the young man do a good deed.” In fact, I decided to take it as a compliment that I look young enough to be pregnant, even though I am in the danger zone age-wise if I were pregnant.

I recently read that when given a compliment you should simply reply “thanks, I received it.” And that is what I decided to do yesterday when the young man offered me his seat— to simply receive it.