I don't really mind getting older.  I'm a much better person now than 20 years ago and, although there are plenty of things I wish I had done differently, all I can say is that between the ages of 20 and 35 there occurred this big chunk of stupid. 

I don't really mind getting older.  I'm a much better person now than 20 years ago and, although there are plenty of things I wish I had done differently, all I can say is that between the ages of 20 and 35 there occurred this big chunk of stupid. 

One downside to maturity is the new battery of preventative health care exams, including mammograms and colonoscopies.  A few months ago I had my first mammogram.  I hated the thought of having it done, but I know it's important.  Afterward, I was telling Chuck about it and how funny it felt to belly up to a machine labeled "Mammo-Mat." 

Yes, it is really called "Mammo-Mat."

"Mammo-Mat?"  laughed Chuck, "Do they offer a buff and a polish?"

I thought about this a couple of days ago as I ran across the most recent pictures of Chuck - or rather, Chuck's colon.  I guess I will let him keep these pictures since he was so kind as to photograph, at my insistence, the placenta at Alex's birth.  (I might be getting wiser, but I'm still weird; how many of you scrap booking moms have pictures of afterbirth in your baby book?)

Last night, on our way to our Church's annual Summerfest, we got on the subject of colonoscopies because it was at last year's festival that Chuck ate a bad sausage, resulting in an intestinal infection that lasted for months and culminated with his submission to this dreaded procedure.

"Dad, is a colonoscopy where they stick a long hose up your bum?"  asked Alex, grinning.

"A hose?"  said Chris, probably envisioning our 30 ft. garden hose.

"Well, not really a hose, it's a tube with a camera."  answered Chuck.

"A CAMERA?" said Chris, picturing our 1990's technology camcorder.

"A very small camera, Chris."

"Oh, my feet tickle!" complained Chris, as he curled into the fetal position.

"Okay, let's not talk about it."

Get used to it, kid.  Life will be full of times that make your feet tickle.