You've got to be "kidding" me

Bert's recollection of our recent trip to Babies 'R' Us is one of the truest things he's written.

A couple of facts from the day:
A.) Crazy people were in abundance on this particular day. (Let's be honest -- when the target market for your store is gestating females, you're bound to end up with a big crate of crazy. I'm surprised other stores actually agree to be in the small strip mall as Babies 'R' Us for fear of some of the crazy spilling over into their territory.)
B.) We weren't all that excited to spend Baby O's tuition for her first semester of college on a carseat and diapers. I'm guessing that may have tinted our rose-colored glasses a dark shade of gray.
C.) The Dallas Cowboys may have been losing at the point we got out of the vehicle. This does not put Gert in a good shopping mood.

Note: I was never crazy while pregnant (or thereafter). Never. Nuh-uh. Not a chance. Perfectly normal here, folks.

The one thing Bert left out was an interaction with the saleswoman talking to us about carseats. It went a little something like this:

Gert asks a million questions.
Saleswoman answers a million questions -- fairly well, I might add.
Saleswoman looks at Bert, standing behind the cart in a white t-shirt, ripped jeans and an old baseball cap, and asks, "Did you have any questions, sir?"
Bert says, "What?" (He was surprised to be addressed; apparently this woman wasn't picking up the on the fact that his wife is the extrovert in this family.)
Gert asks, "Did you have any questions, babe?"
"Nope," Bert replies.
"He's just here to carry out the purchases, I guess," says the saleswoman. "That, or look really, really intimidating. I can't decide which it is."

And at that moment, for the briefest of seconds, I saw what a stranger must see when looking at Bert. Not the lovable teddy bear that may or may not have teared up at Secretariat. Not the man who insisted on changing diapers about an hour after Baby O was born so that I could rest. Not the man who graciously held my hair everytime I puked while pregnant. Not the man who makes me coffee every morning, and often pancakes.

She saw the strength of our family, who I rely on constantly but don't always give the credit he deserves. She saw the protector of our family. Who was willing to do anything to get the best car seat for the best price -- even if that meant going to Babies 'R' Us on a Sunday when the crazies are out.