Neighborliness While Hugely Pregnant

Today I literally stayed within a one-block circumference of my apartment building, or as my sister calls it, my tenement housing. Taking my daughter to school is just a one-block jaunt around the back of my block. Across the street from her school is a Family Dollar, where I bought laundry detergent. The cashier inquired with me about my impending bundle of joy. Back home, I got the laundry together in my Santa Claus bag and cargo'ed it over to the laundromat. Most people in the neighborhood use metal push carts with wheels. I lost mine some time ago and have failed to get another one. Often times I use my daughter's stroller to act as a cart to carry the laundry. But it was hanging on a hook from the ceiling and I wasn't about to get it down. So I had no choice but to hoist up the heavy bag and sling it over my arm, just like Santa Clause would do.  The walk to the laundromat is just block and across the street, a very simple route. I did make it there just fine, although my wrist quickly cramped up. Immediately a woman warned me to be careful with my baby.  Getting back was much easier. A neighbor grabbed the laundry bag and carried it to my building. That was nice of him. The next chore was to mail off some bills, The mailbox is also one block away across the street. There is no cross walk, so the normal strategy is to poke yourself out onto the street and wait for an opening to cross.  But these days, all I need to do is appear hugely pregnant on the curbside and cars stop for me to cross. It's like being in Connecticut where cars must stop for pedestrians crossing the street.  I even had a bus stop for me so I could cross.  Throughout the day I got several "How much more time you got?", "When are you gonna pop?", "It's a boy.", "It's a girl."  These comments and questions occur on a daily basis the moment I step out the door. Today was no exception. But it's sort of fun to go around the neighborhood and get the banter exchange from people on the street. Pregnancy brings out the best in stranger interaction.  It acts as a conversation piece. It seems people who don't know each other really do want to converse. A pregnant belly gives an open and safe door to start asking questions, when normally, we would all just pass each other by, silent and stoned-faced, eyes averted. Like riding in an elevator...no one really talks to anyone else.

There was plenty of action today. Right on my street today were film crews and huge trailers set up for a two-day shoot of "The Sitter." I got a lot of stares, but no offers to be an extra.  I guess they didn't need an enormously pregnant person in the filming.  Another trip over to the school to pick up my daughter completed my outings for the day.  Family Dollar was unloading merchandise to the backside of the store on our street.  The loaders made a huge path for us to get through, making sure none of the boxes would come close to falling on me.  I am sort of relishing this extra attention I am getting from neighbors and strangers and passersby because I know once the stomach is back to normal (as if that will ever happen!), the special treatment stops and it will be back to anonymity.  Don't blame me for enjoying it another 9 weeks!