Deciding what to write about today was no easy feat. I went back and forth. Back and forth.
Do I show you photos of our new kitchen table that arrived this week after waiting two months? It’s the first piece of real non-hand-me-down furniture that my husband and I have purchased together. We selected the style of table, chairs, and bar stools. We brought home stain samples and debated whether to match the cabinets or the wood floors. We patiently waited for Amish craftsmen to build it with their hands. (Not kidding.)
Or do I write about something that I am so proud of and have been wanting to tell someone, but that’s a little gross and no one but me and maybe my immediate family will appreciate?
After a quick poll on Twitter, I am proud to announce that today’s topic is…
Wait for it…
Wait for it…
Burping.
That’s right. Burping.
Bet you didn’t see that coming. (Unless of course you were on Twitter last night at about 10:00 pm Central Standard Time.*)
So here’s the deal. I can’t burp. Rather, I couldn’t burp. Isn’t that the strangest thing you’ve ever heard?
I had a tormented childhood. Everyone could burp but me and no one seemed to be able to teach me.
I had a tormented young adulthood. Instead of being able to burp, gas sat in my stomach, trapped with no place to go. Seriously people. It was painful. Doctor after doctor had no advice to give other than buying stock in Gas X (simethicone was my friend).
My family teased me and often gave me gag gifts: mugs that burped when set on the table, toys that burped when squeezed.
It wasn’t until I became pregnant with Q while in my thirties that I could burp. During the pregnancy, I am not sure why, but I sometimes let out small burps.
But after the pregnancy, I returned to my no-burping self. Too bad I didn’t return to my pre-pregnancy weight!
And then I got pregnant with R. And something magical happened. You know how when you are pregnant ligaments and all sorts of other things loosen up (I’m not going there!). Well maybe my esophagus or some other body part between my stomach and throat loosened and I suddenly could let out loud, bawdy belches that would make even Homer proud.
I figured this new found release would be short lived. But no, in the three plus years since R was born I have been able to rip loud belches, though still not on command.
The interesting thing is that it rarely happens at inopportune moments. Usually it’s in the car on the way to school drop off or work. And let me tell you that I hate burping my breakfast Cheerios. Tastes strangely the same coming up as going down.
Read more No D-Day posts by visiting The B.A.D. Blog.
*Of note, the movie Local Hero was recommended to me and I recommended the movie True Romance. See, Twitter has such value!



{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
This may be my favorite post so far! And the Cheerios…THE CHEERIOS! So gross, yet so true. I’m glad you chose burping over the kitchen table. Cheers to No D-Day! I hope we do this more often.
Martin,
Actually, the worst is probably when I belch my Jimmy John’s vegetarian sandwich on the way home from work hours after consuming it.
I think I just crossed the line…that was TMI!
OMG Jimmy Johns Veggies are my favorite! This post had me cracking up, thanks!
NOW this is good stuff Leighann! So glad you are able to decompress .
OMG that is funny. You made me think of my cousins when they would down liters of Coke and have belching contests
OMG!!! That is totally funny!
too funny!!
I guess I have never thought about it but if I couldn’t burp I would explode with all the diet sodapop I drink! Ouch!
can you say the alphabet while burping? That should be the next goal!
thanks for the No D-day post! So awesome.
George,
If I could burp the alphabet, I bet I could rule the world!
Thanks for inspiring everyone to think about something else today.
Ohmygosh thank you for making me laugh today! Feels like I know you so much better now….lol
and you’re right…never saw it coming
I love this! I remember sitting in my closet in the dark, drinking diet root beer with my best friend when we were in 5th grade, and seeing who could make the grossest burp. Good times…
Hooray for belching!
Jack is currently working on burping his way through the alphabet. So far, he can make it all the way to G.
Hahaha! Yeah, I’m glad you chose burping over the kitchen table.
I was in a similar boat….I don’t think I could do it until college. Now my family makes fun of me for it!