One interesting thing that's happened because of this wide, red scar on my neck, is that children see it and can't resist asking. I have to admit this - when the parents are looking extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed that their child has blatantly asked me, "What happened to your neck?" -- I die laughing inside. Not in a mean way, but it's just so cute, and so sad, that we don't have a better way of dealing with obvious scars, injuries, than to sort of choke back a horrified and apologetic laugh when the most honest of us does what they do- asks questions!
One little girl, special to my heart, has a ritual that whenever we're together, she has to swipe her finger across my scar. I can tell she needs to do it so I lean down, she does it, we both look at each other and laugh. I appreciate that someone acknowledges my scar. It's hard to miss it, it's red and still healing. I haven't gotten the chance to use my "Knife fight on the docks of Beijing" story yet which kind of bums me out. Heh!
I know it's not true for everyone, but I like being asked. The thing that I enjoy most about being asked about my scar is that someone knows me well enough (or feels from me) that I would be open to talking about it. I totally am. I had cancer, and now I don't- score!
Now if adults start walking up to me and stroking my scar, there may be an actual knife fight.
I wanna see the scar.
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