I don’t know if things differ from one place to another, but our local YMCA provided extremely discounted membership to our whole family for financial reasons. When my siblings were very little they also could sign up to extremely discounted daycare which was invaluable for my autistic brother who needed help learning…

When I was a kid I didn’t listen to music, I subconsciously thought it was bad because the way I was raised. My mom didn’t do it on purpose, but being raised in the 60s and 70s she associated music with drug culture. She had three brothers who all became homeless drug addicts ; one was murdered, and the other has…

Its good for people who never learned how to cook.
My parents didn’t cook much so I had no real examples to learn from- its only recently I’ve been trying to teach myself.

The cow’s name was Raylene.

My mom changed the spelling on the birth certificate to Relene (pronounced Rah-leene) when he wasn’t looking to make it sound less.... hill-billy-ish.

I Remember the first time I played FFVII.

My name is Lydia...

The only Lydias I’ve met in person are Amish.
I have nothing against Amish ladies, but I certainly hope I don’t come across as Amish.

I guess it doesn’t matter.... everywhere I go everyone always reads my name as Linda anyways- or they think they heard me say Olivia. It also doesn’t help that my…

Its only recently I started using public tap water.
I grew up my entire life using well water (lived in the middle of no where) that tasted good and was amazing on my hair. When I moved to the city my hair is now a lost cause- not to mention my skin, and I had to get myself a Brita water pitcher to filter the water…

What white people often don’t get is that seeing black people in the media isn’t just important for black children- but its also important for white children.

I’m white—- my mom got pregnant with me at 16 and had no idea what she was doing—- but on the small list of things she was certain about at the time one of her…

My brother has autism which was obvious from a very young age. He was born when I was 18- and it was a learning process for my family.
As we learned more about autism and watched my brother grow- everyone in my family came to a certain conclusion- they felt like the adult me probably is somewhere on the autistic…

“Coca-Cola only created Coke Zero in the first place because Diet Coke was too girly.”

I find this hilarious.
I don’t drink Soda (I think all carbonated drinks taste nasty)... but I do purchase it for my boyfriend. I always buy diet coke for him and avoided Coke Zero... I felt Coke Zero’s design seemed more masculine…

I have a serious phobia of crowds.... bad enough that I will just say “NOPE” and leave places like crowded grocery stores or other areas even if I’m in line to check out (Actually lines are the worst... feels like you’re trapped once you get in one). If it gets bad enough I have been known to have panic attacks or…

I work deposits at a department store- and I hate when I get $2 bills... I have to record them separately in our computer system and on physical paper work- and then spend time wrapping up and stamping a single bill to be deposited into the bank separate from the giant stacks of everything else.

It would be nice for…

I used to work in Car/Home/Liability insurance.

Those signs are a scare tactic and nothing more.
If you or your insurance brings them to court and the court finds them liable for damages then they’re liable for damages on a case by case basis.

What about medical debt?

My mom’s husband has been in and out of hospitals for 2 years battling late stage cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer. If he dies with a boat load of debt would my mother be responsible for it?

I only ask because even though they have no money and neither of them can work- but she owns 3…

“That’s a good question!”

That’s the answer I give my grandmother when she asks when me and my boyfriend are getting married... followed by an awkward laugh.

Someone at work a while back used to ask me about having a baby all the time though and it drove me nuts. I’m not currently trying to have a baby- but I’m very…

I actually have gotten therapy and lots of help over the last year for my anxiety and other issues I have—— at this point I have learned some relaxation techniques to keep myself from having panic attacks when I start to worry that have made huge changes in my life—- but I haven’t gotten to the point of being able…

I don’t know the name of the phobia... but I have a phobia of being late... for anything. Like a phobia so bad I have panic attacks in traffic on the way to work type phobias. As a result I always eat lunch at my desk... I’m worried that if I leave to eat somewhere else I might lose track of time and get back from…

I love the history of food.... its so awesome.

I remember a few years ago someone recommended me a book on the history of the potato. I didn’t know what to expect, but I certainly wasn’t expecting the book to bring me to tears. Its like the potato was built up as this amazing hero that overcame so many hurdles in its…

I find the timing of this article funny.

Normally my ob/gyn jumps at the opportunity to make me pay for another appointment- like having pointless follow ups that last 1 minute, or if I come in for a prescription renewal they won’t let me do my annual exam at the same time.

Having a good reusable water bottle has made a HUGE difference in my plastic consumption.
I used to drink an entire 36 bottle pack per week by myself; our house would be filled with my empty bottles everywhere- my car as well. I now have 5 reusable water bottles that I rotate through and I just love them. I’m not sure…