Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Genetics--You Can Run, But You Can't Hide!


My husband is a wonderful, talented man. He is my example in so many different areas. That being said, some of the things about him really make me chuckle. For instance, my friend just emailed me the pics she took from Easter since our camera didn't make the trip (I'm not going to issue any blame here--see how charitable I am?). As I was looking through the photos, the first thing I noticed were Derek's feet. Have a look for yourself.

You are probably thinking, Derek was a premier danseur (male ballerina)? I kid you not, that's the name of a male ballerina. No, Derek was never a professional dancer of any kind, he has been a sports fan all his life. He did dabble with piano for a few, short years...oh yeah, he was also in a children's singing group, but nothing in the dancing catergory. His feet stand like that ALL THE TIME.

I don't think he needs corrective surgery, although I don't know if that's ever been investigated. I suppose he prefers to think of it as an advantageous mutation. Think about it, you're at the bathroom sink, brushing your teeth and you lean over to spit--Derek's a good 2-3 inches closer than most. Or, his first love soccer. (I mean his first sports love, not his first REAL love, that's me of course). Can you imagine a soccer player that wouldn't die to be born with feet ready to kick a ball?

You know the weirdest thing? If he puts his feet together, his knees turn out a weird way. So, obviously, he was born with this situation going on. I've heard of pigeon-toed, but I don't know what you call this...

For as athletic as Derek is, you would think he would have some level of flexibility, but sadly, there is none. We stretched out together once. Okay, I stretched out and he did something that looked like he was bending half way over at the waist. I told him to really try and stretch and he said that was as far as he could go. Try this. Stand up, bend over at the waist to where your fingertips touch your knees, that's about where his flexibility stops. Now, I would say this was poor training by coaches over the years, but then I saw Derek stretching with his brothers. Now there's a whole group of men who can barely stretch. I don't know how it happened, but it did. I did hear rumor that his brother Trevor built up his stretching ability over the years and can now safely bend over and touch his ankles. I'd have to see that with my own eyes.

I have to confess that my body too has its quirks. My fingers are all messed up. Seriously, if I point, my finger bends like a weird double-jointed way. Why you may ask? I have no idea. My pinky has a weird side bend going on as well. I think my aunt is to blame for that one. Your aunt you say? Hey, I can assign blame wherever I choose. She gets it for this one.

As for my toes, the second toe and the middle toe used to cross. No joke, for several years when I was born they crossed each other. Freak! Don't talk about my grandpa that way he'll kick your bum and that's where I got that weirdness.

You want to know something else weird? I laugh a lot on my homevideos. You can hear my cackle in the background if you listen. You know who laughs just like me? My mom. That's right, she's copying me. She loves me that much. I first noticed it a couple of years ago. We laugh exactly the same. Genetic laughing? What chromosome is that one?

I know I make some people nervous because I'm a big-time detail person. Typos, incorrect word usage, the stray hair lying on your back. I'm taking it all in. Don't worry, I rarely say anything, but I'm watching. Know who else is just like that? My dad. Big deal you say? Well, I only lived with him the first year of my life, so how in the heck did that get passed on?

Wouldn't it be amazing to know all of the traits that have passed down through the various branches of our trees that make us who we are? To be able to provide credit and assign blame to ancestors for all of the many characteristics that make us individuals. How fun to see them all in one room and recognize a tiny bit of ourselves in each person we meet.

23 comments:

Melissa said...

It's funny that you bring this up! I've been thinking about this a lot lately. I think it's really on your mind after you have a baby. In the delivery room I took one look at Graycie's fingers and toes and was surprised to find that they are just like my sisters! The other day, after my Mom left Mace pointed out that we stand the same way and do the same thing with our hands when we're thinking. I'm not sure if this is genetic or if it's because I've just grown up seeing it. Interesting to think about!

Lara Neves said...

Joel's feet are exactly the same way! He is the envy of many a ballerina wannabe. People often ask him if he is a dancer, and I just get a kick out of it.

It is very fun to compare our children to ourselves, too. :)

JenW said...

weird but true...ethan is a little kendall in so many ways, it's really kind of dangerous. and the weiredest weirdness is that avery sometimes, since she was born, i am not kidding you, will hold her thumbs in between her other fingers and who else does that? kendall's mom and grandma...and she did when she was born...bizarre

Kelli said...

Audrey, you make me laugh!! I can feel your pain with the pinkies!! I think everyone in our family can make a long horn have curly horns without even trying! Sad but true :) We love Derek even though he might stand sort of strangely. Maybe it makes for better athletic ability.

DKAZ said...

OK, I can't believe that his feet were the first thing you noticed about those cute pictures but whatever. My hub's feet are the EXACT same way and I'm almost felt like that was reason enough not to marry him! But he talked me out of it by telling me all of the great things about having feet like that. He said he ruled in b-ball because he never got injured from any of the pile-ups when he was younger...oops except for the time that he broke both of him arms!

OK, so you are much to weird to hang out with anymore and my incorrect usage of parenthesis and ... and - probably drive you in sane...at least our children can still hang out. However, I will be looking a lot closer at R's toes.

Lastly, I can't help but wonder what it would be like if you were me. You know being adopted and all-not knowing where my crazy fingers come from or why I and all my kids have that da* cowlick!

You're stinking funny.

Kim said...

Oh, your fingers! I had totally forgotten all about them, but I can see them now just as vividly as when we were 12! Too funny.

Julie said...

LOL... your poor husband! Does he know that you're blogging about his danseur stance? ;) It's amazing what those microscopic strands of DNA can do to us... my poor kidlets are doomed to have fifth cusps on their molars and double-jointed fingers and a tendency to stick out their tongues whenever they are concentrating. Sorry, kids! Blame the family tree!

Lara Neves said...

Does this mean that Derek, Tyler and Joel are distant cousins?

Lacey said...

Did Derek know you were going to post this about him? LOL!

I agree with Melissa...it's so fun to watch your little babies grow and see what from who they got...

It just goes to show that genetics are STRONG! It doesn't matter how good lookin' you are...your kids could look like anybody! Kind of a scary thought actually!

And yes, I think of you everytime I put a comma or a punctuation mark in my blog entries! Thanks alot!

Brooke said...

Audrey you make me laugh!! My feet are like that too. . . I hate admitting to being the first girl on here. . . everyone else has said "my husband's feet are like that". But unlike your husband I did wear "special shoes" as a baby. I might be wrong but I was thinking it was called being duck footed. I might be making that up though. . . I have a bad habit of making up words :) Note to self don't use them around Audrey! LOL!

JLJ said...

My husband is grossed out by MY feet. I really don't think they are that bad. However, he could probably be a foot model, perfect feet. Interesting that your dad is also "detail conscious" and you only lived with him one year. I never thought of personality traits like that being hereditary. Thanks for making me laugh!

wackywilsons said...

A very intriguing blog (is that spelled correctly mrs. English??) Oh well...you get the point.

What I love most about your blogs are your random and useful thoughts...you remind me of "Thought my Jack Handey." Maybe you should title your blog, "Thoughts with Audrey."

I definitely wonder where we get our weird things from...for example, my hairy body! ha! I blame my dad for that. he has a sweater on when he has no shirt on. Or, how about my boys' eyes...I think they are mine, but who knows?

I will keep on thinking...

Scott & Tami said...

Man, you sure went off on Derek's feet posture...and I know a lot of athlete's who aren't flexible....me for one, but yes, I'm workin' on that too...Derek...try yoga...it's awesome for working on flexibility and helps my back a ton!!! You're right, we all have our weird sides of us!!!

Cari Florence said...

The laugh situation is all to true for me as well. My mom and I laugh exactly the same! I LOVE it!!

kjirsti said...

Oh Derek, I forget we have so much in common! I would definitely agree that being duck footed is a progressive step in our evolutionary cycle!

Bethany said...

At least they don't point inward. Now that would be weird.

Without noticing, I hold my right arm at a right agle across my chest as my wrist hangs limp. And it all the time. Didn't know I did it until my husband pointed it out. now it embarasses me horribly.

Heather said...

I totally have the wierd double jointed thing going on and a slanted pinky. Too funny! Loved your post :)

Heather said...

I totally have the wierd double jointed thing going on and a slanted pinky. Too funny! Loved your post :)

Lauren and Trevor said...

I just talked to Devin and he is duck footed too, but unfortunately I was not born with this blessing. In fact, the very reason I had to work on my stretching over the years was so that I could be more duck footed to aid in my ability to pass the soccer ball more easily with the side of my foot.

Lauren and Trevor said...

I just talked to Devin and he is duck footed too, but unfortunately I was not born with this blessing. In fact, the very reason I had to work on my stretching over the years was so that I could be more duck footed to aid in my ability to pass the soccer ball more easily with the side of my foot.

Lauren and Trevor said...

I just talked to Devin and he is duck footed too, but unfortunately I was not born with this blessing. In fact, the very reason I had to work on my stretching over the years was so that I could be more duck footed to aid in my ability to pass the soccer ball more easily with the side of my foot.

Erica said...

I love your posts about genetics. I think it is all fascinating (especially the part where we learn about Derek's feet).

Rusty said...

Audrey, your post cracked me up. You write very well.