Toe Popping is an Acquired Taste

Hello folks! I took some time off from writing last week to visit with family on the Fourth and kiss on the ATS Baby Beau Czars. You can find those pics on my Facebook page. That said, I’m hoping y’all enjoy this issue from the ATS vault. Have a seat and let’s chat…~smile~

In a few short weeks, All Things Southern will be eleven years old. That amazes me. I remember when I had no idea what I was doing. ‘Course, that was just last week, but still. Don’t ask me to explain this, but although I have a hard time remembering to stop and buy milk, my brain has recorded almost all of our porch visits since that inaugural web launch. That’s why I knew what was up when that reporter called looking for Shellie Rushing Tomlinson, said he’d like to interview her about toe popping. “You’ve got her,” I said. I realized immediately that he’d found that particular chat floating around cyber space. What I wanted to know was why it piqued his interest. He filled me in. Seems a principal down there had been suspended for popping kids’ toes and it was all over the news.

I granted his interview and answered his questions as graciously as possible. Yes, I like to pop toes. No, not just my own toes— I like to pop other people’s toes, too, like those belonging to my husband and kids. No, I don’t remember how old my children were when I started popping their toes, but I recall them being little bitty things. It was probably a game of “this little piggy goes to market” that got out of hand. Regardless, they grew to like it and before long they began presenting their toes voluntarily.

Folks, on the outside chance there are other toe-poppers on the porch, I should caution you. As that principal discovered, toe popping can turn ugly. It’s best to keep it in the family. I know this for one day I was holding someone else’s toddler on my hip, deep in conversation, when I inadvertently popped the child’s baby toe. Have mercy! I reckon the poor thing thought I’d broken it. You’ve never heard such wailing! And that was the Mama. The baby cried, too! Fortunately for me, no one pressed charges. Toe popping, it’s obviously an acquired taste.

Hugs,
Shellie