Birth Order

Recently people have made it a point to let me know that I'm obsessed with birth order. Truth be told, that's not inaccurate. I wouldn't say I am "obsessed," but I do ask people their birth order. If a friend is dating someone new I ask the individual's name and then his/her birth order and zodiac sign.

Now I know this is bad, but I guess I do form certain opinions of someone based on something they have absolutely no control over. (OK, long sentence over: Breathe!) I dislike pigeon-holing people. I dislike categories. I dislike generalizations. Sadly, I do those very same things at times.

Lets take an only child for example, instantly I will think "self-centered."

First born - Rebel.

Youngest - Spoiled.

Middle Child - Peace-maker.

Now, these are definitely prejudicial and offer only a limited scope; but I still feel there is some truth to this.

There's been quite a bit of research on this matter. There's a story about it in the Mahabharata as well. I can't find the reference anywhere right now but Bheem felt a little left out as the middle child of the Pandavs.

I remember my parents calling me their Bheem (not really flattering when you're a seven-year old girl) when we came across that part in the Mahabharata.

Since then my parents, my sisters, and I have spoken about birth order on numerous occasions.

Being a middle child was especially frustrating when my parents remembered everything about A: her first word, her first step, her first day at school (that may have to do with the fact that she was two-months premature, but still!).

The other times that it was annoying was when my parents got M absolutely everything she looked at and anything that she might have mumbled, "That's nice," at (OK so she was their last child, but still!).

However, my older sister is wonderful (though bossy at times) and my younger sister is a sweetheart (though aggravating at times). I know my sisters think I'm OK too (though whiny at times).

All said and done, however, I believe an individual's personality has more to do with upbringing, education, experience, rather than birth order. (OK, I do believe birth order is important but the peace-maker in me has to make it all better.)

So, what's your birth order?

100 Yards

My roommate, Jen (not to be confused with India trip cool-close-friend, Jenn) and I were going to a friend's (Brian) house (he's now her boyfriend).

Brian gave us directions to his place and Jen and I followed them to a T. However, as we turned into his township the directions Jen had written down stated, "make a left after 100 yards." I turned to Jen and said,

"Tell me when 100 yards comes up. I don't know how far that is exactly."

"Ummmm. Neither do I" she replied.

"So why didn't you tell him that?" I asked rather loudly. But I knew why. She liked him a lot and he liked her too. I guess we'd just have to figure out what 100 yards was.

Great, I thought. I started to drive slower. We looked for a left turn but didn't see one and ended up at a dead end. I made a U-turn and she finally called Brian.

We made our way back and found the left we were supposed to make (which was now a right turn...I hope you're still with me and not lost).

As Brian opened the door, I asked him why he stated to make a left after a hundred yards.

"Wouldn't it have been easier to say make the first left?"

December 18, 2005