Private or prickly?

Sometimes I have to ask myself if I am merely a private person or a prickly antisocial thing that doesn't like sharing.

Well, work has been exhausting lately. I was run off my feet the other day overseeing the youth volunteer fair, and I guess it must have hit me like a ton of bricks after the event was safely a thing of the past and the adrenaline had ceased to course through my body.

A coworker opened with the following rather frightening gambit, "Do you mind if I ask you something personal?"
Instant dread.

"Are you pregnant? It's just that you seem so tired."

Now, keep in mind I am only 7 weeks along. I haven't even told my parents yet. The only people who know are Liz, Andrew, and Jon. I didn't like to, but I answered this coworker with a lie -- I denied that I was. After she had gone, it struck me that it was really rude of her to put me in a position where I either had to lie (in order to keep my special news to myself for a bit longer) or put it all out there. And it's not just her. I've been asked regularly for the last two years by various coworkers when I plan on starting a family. Now, with it being common knowledge that Jon and I are looking to move, there's even more fuel for the fire. Why on earth would we be thinking of moving to a bigger place if we didn't have plans for a bambino?

Anyway, I shouldn't let all of this bother me too much. It ain't worth it, and while I'm sure some of the probing springs from idle curiosity, some of it also comes from a better place -- like my coworkers are genuinely interested in seeing my life proceed happily.

In other news, I told Lisa the other day that while I am sooooo flattered she asked me to apply for her job when she goes on her mat. leave, I won't be able to since I, myself, am expecting as well. It would have been a really great experience -- get out of public service for a while, meet with publishers regularly to discuss books (!), coordinate a rock show....But, this baby was meant to be, and it is a far bigger deal than any job could ever be.

P.S. Dr. Dixon was horrified when I told her about the snoopy coworker. A little validation.