Proud Dad

I mentioned yesterday that I went to Panera Bread for lunch. Also attending was my wife, Mrs. Undaground and my son, the Undaling.

One of the things about being a dad that I've had to learn to accept, is the sudden attention we've been getting from strangers. Those who know me know I try to minimize my contact with other people. I have a circle of friends and outside of that, I generally believe that most people were placed on Earth with the simple goal of annoying me. At least since the Undaground blog has been established, I do find fodder to write about in these painful encounters.

So, the baby's stroller was facing in a direction where I couldn't see his face. I think that I originally had a good view of him as I ate my Turkey Artichoke Panini until we had to move the stroller to avoid the intense Panera foot traffic coming through the front entrance.

Suddenly, as I took another hearty bite of my panini, an old lady approached the stroller and smiled down at the Undaling. She had oxygen tubes draped across her face, but I looked and didn't see a tank anywhere. Maybe she escaped from a home. Maybe she just wants to be wired up so she's "oxygen-tank ready". Maybe it's a new old lady fashion accessory, but I digress. Suddenly, she leaned in closer to him and, without acknowledging my wife or me, enthusiastically uttered the following phrase:

"A goo-goo, ga-ga. Moky Mum-bi. Tee hee."

Honestly, I don't give people a lot of credit. It's one of my character flaws, so I think she was really trying to speak English to him and couldn't put it all together. I guess it could have been her interpretation of baby gibberish. Either way, it was unnecessary and did nothing to enrich my son's young life.

Just like that, she was gone. My wife was laughing, but I wasn't sure exactly why.

"What's so funny?", I asked.

"He just made that face to her."

You mean this one? Then I furrowed my brow and gave my wife the look I normally reserve for creepy strangers.

"Yes. That's the exact look he gave her." Then she laughed again.

I'm a proud dad today. Good job, son! Another milestone for the baby book.