A Rivet, A Snap, A Button, And A Smile

You know the little metal thingy that holds 2 things together permanently? You know it is not a button or a snap, it is attached permanently. Oh yeah, it is a rivet. Well, I have a riveting rivet story to tell.

When Natalie was a toddler, she had to go to physical therapy and wear casts several times a year. She had to be casted to stretch her heel chord; the muscle behind her left calf. Needless to say, we spent a lot of time at doctors' offices. Since Tillie was so adorable, she stole the hearts of all her doctors and their staffs.

This kind, old guy who fitted a brace to her leg, with a fun tweety bird on the back, tried to answer all of Natalie's thousands of questions. He explained each and every thing so patiently. When Tillie asked what the rivet was, he spent an enormous amount of time explaining it. He dragged a nurse in to show Natalie a button and a snap and went on and on about how both could open and shut. Then he explained the rivet on her brace, explaining how it would not open and shut but was stuck there permanently. She smiled, asked appropriate 3 year old questions, and appeared to have a great understanding of the rivet. Finally, the enthusiastic, old doc was satisfied that he had enlightened her. So he gave her a bright orange balloon, and off we went.

When we got to the car, as I was buckling her in her car seat, I asked her what that little metal thing on her brace was. She beamed her reply, "A frog! Ribbet, Ribbet!"

I could not tell him that at our next visit, but boy did I smile!

In Him,

Joyful
4-28-2010

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