Interesting

I had a doctor's appointment yesterday. Normally, my blood pressure has been around 110/60. Two visits ago it was 120/70 and yesterday it was 120/78. Though still in the normal range, they are keeping an eye on this to see if my blood pressure continues to rise.

Last night I woke up a couple of times because I was moaning. I was having Braxton Hicks contractions in my sleep and I think a couple of them were strong enough to wake me up.

We're supposed to leave for Midland tomorrow for the Easter holiday. I think all will be fine, but it's interesting when things are happening with your body that are beyond your control. Wish me luck.

And, finally, Nate and I cannot seem to avoid Christians in Dallas. Let me give you an example. In our birthing class (very nice people and nice instructor), out of seven couples, three of them have jobs related to Christian enterprises. At the end of our class, they wanted to pray. They stressed that no one should feel pressured to participate, and Nate did not want to, but I felt a certain vibe in the room and that we would break it if we left since we would be the only ones to do so. I wanted the group to feel good and happy and joined and all those things, because I think those are positive feelings. I don't regret participating. However, I do not intend to pray again if they should choose to continue the practice after classes.

Here's the funny thing, these kinds of situations seem to happen to us often and when we tell native Dallasites about them, they act as though they are out of the norm. Some of the interactions we've had in the almost-three years we've lived in Dallas:

Approximately half of our neighbors, upon introduction, asked us where we go to church and invited us to go with them when we said we didn't. Nate started telling them I was raised Catholic and then they would change the subject.

When I first moved here, I had a very hard time filling my birth control perscription. The pharmacy claimed they could not get in touch with my doctor in Chicago to verify my RX and when I finally went to a local Planned Parenthood to get a local script, the pharmacist referred to them as my "abortion clinic."

We have had to navigate the wet/dry areas of town. This has been awkard in instances when, for instance, we take out-of-town guests to dinner and explain to them why the restaurant does not serve alcohol.

There was a liquor store we went to from time to time. One of the clerks there asked us if we intended to have children (I can't remember specifics, but she somehow referenced God/religion during this convo). When we said we didn't know (this was a couple of years ago), she said she was surprised I would have children with someone who drank and that she'd made her husband quit drinking. I know I mentioned this before, but she worked in a liquor store.

Nate's old dentist, in the middle of a procedure while she had implements in his mouth, asked Nate if he was saved. When he said he didn't go to church but thought he was a good person, she told him that wouldn't keep him out of hell.

I feel like there have been other instances but those are the ones that spring immediately to mind. I think people have every right to their beliefs and I'm glad they believe in God and find comfort in that. Whatever works for you. I just don't want to participate. If I ever change my mind, there are about seven churches only a few blocks away from our house. I know where to find you if I'm interested.