PART ONE
I hate spit. It appalls me. I can't explain the aversion, but I'd rather have bugs crawling on me than to see someone spit.
Once I found myself on a somewhat long drive in a car with three male Progressive Farmer editors (at the time, I was the only female Progressive Farmer editor) and two of them were dipping and spitting in cups. I absolutely thought I was going to have to ask the driver to stop the car and let me out. There's just something about spit that my system can't tolerate.
PART TWO
For a long time, since the service became available at a reasonable cost, I've wanted to have my DNA tested to give me an idea of the ethnicity of my ancestry. (Well, now. Isn't that a delightful phrase?) So when Ancestry.com offered their kits and service for half the normal cost, I ordered one.
I expected to get a long q-tip and a plastic baggy. I thought I would be required to swab the inside of my cheek with the q-tip, place it in the baggy, and return it. Well! That's how they do it on tv.
Imagine my chagrin when I opened up the kit and found a glass vial. The instructions tell me that I must spit into this vial until it is full of spit up to the black line. My stomach did a flip-flop just reading the instructions.
Did I say I don't like spit? I meant anybody's spit, even mine. I don't even like the word spit. Now I have to spit and spit and spit in a vial and mail this off to find out who my ancient ancestors might be.
I'm gonna do it, but sure ain't happy about it.
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On 10/05/2013, Barbara Anne said ...
Yep, spit is a bit gross and only slightly less so when it's mixed with toothpaste! Mixed with snuff it is intolerable, IMHO.
I have to wonder about those ancestry things. Is the LDS wanting information so they can baptize our predecesors? Is it insurance companies looking for yet another way to bilk us out of proper coverage at a reasonable price? As is said, just because you're paranoid doesn't mean that someone isn't really out to get you! Call me crazy ... :)
Today I was dismayed to learn of the July death of dear, sweet, and dynamic Mary Ellen Hopkins who I regarded as a friend and mentor even tho I never met her. I have 3 of her books and have loved her common sense and zest for life for 2 decades. Last week I started making one of her patterns, Hidden Wells, and am glad to honor her in this little way.
Hugs!
On 10/05/2013, Jan said ...
Well, isn't that just unpleasant?! But think of the poor person on the 'receiving end' of your DNA submission??!! eeewwwwwuuuuuu...can you just imagine when they have to list their occupation? "Spit Tester" ought to get some attention on a form!! acckkkk.
Sure hope your information is exciting & interesting once you get the results!
On 10/05/2013, Pesky Patti said ...
Pretend you are a baseball player...or any athlete for that matter...
On 10/06/2013, Lisa A said ...
I've always wanted to do that. How long will it be before you get a report?
On 10/07/2013, Bonnie said ...
Oh, I think the spit is just a tiny part in the miracle of what can be discovered. I hope you'll share your findings with us, I think this is all fascinating.
On 10/07/2013, Beverly said ...
Oh, Lord, Susan! You can't begin to imagine how much this made me laugh. I hate ... spit, too. Really!!! It makes me gag. I hate seeing the action of spitting, and I hate seeing spit. Yuck! Ugh! Gag!
Now, on to the DNA kit. I am especially interested to hear the outcome of this experience. We have been thinking about it, too. Although, more thinking will now be required now that I know I have to spit.
On 10/07/2013, Glenda in Florida said ...
Perhaps you could bribe your sister into taking the test for you? She has the same ancestors, right? Isn't that what sisters are for ? :-)
On 10/07/2013, Andrea said ...
Oh I'm right there with ya sister........I detest spitting and always have! It's bad enough to see boys and men doing it but the first time I saw a woman do it I just about died! It took every fiber of my being not to say something but this woman was kind of rough but I have seen other women doing it? Why oh why?
Absolutely love your blog and look forward to it every time a new post is up!
On 10/08/2013, Jed said ...
Hey Aunt Susan!
Be happy that you are doing the Ancestry.com test, and not the test from 23andMe. The 23andMe test takes twice as much spit. :)
I think the 23andMe test gives about the same amount of ancestry information as the Ancestry test, but it also gives information about genetic risks of diseases. The disease risk information can be nerve-racking for some people, but I was lucky. Most of my news was good. The 23andMe test also tells you what percentage of your DNA comes from Neanderthals, which is interesting but entirely useless. (I'm 2.6%, which is slightly lower than average for people of European descent.) Not sure if AncestryDNA has this info or not.
Both tests let you find people with common DNA. The closest match I found has about 2% DNA in common with me. That is, probably a 3rd or 4th cousin. On 23andMe, you can contact that person, but unless they reply you can't find out who they are or any information about them.
I'm sure you'll have fun with this! Let us know if you find any new branches of the family.
Love - Jed
On 10/10/2013, Ramey said ...
What do Bruce Willis and India Dyer have in common? They both used to answer a knock at the door by yelling "Spit and slide under!"
On 10/18/2013, Andy said ...
You know Rusty was a dipper and a spitter... Well, it was always so disgusting. All the spit cups sitting around the house, and in the car. One night we were in the car, going somewhere, and I mistook his spit bottle for my drink, and well, you can imagine my horror when I turned it up and took a swallow. He had to pull over on the side of the road for me to vomit. I hacked my guts up for about twenty minutes.
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