I'll Be Watching You

"Are either one of you organ donors?" My son asked from the back seat of the car.

My husband and I looked at each other."Yes," I said. "No," he said, simultaneously.

We all laughed. It was typical for me and Rich to have completely opposite world views. It's what keeps our marriage interesting.

"I figured as much," my son grinned. “I don’t know how you two ever got together.”

I turned around in the front seat. "Seriously though, anything of mine that could be useful to anyone, I want donated."

"You mean organs like your heart or lungs or something?" Brian raised an eyebrow at me.

"Or my corneas or anything else."

"Your CORNEAS?" my son was clearly disturbed by this bit of news.

He looked at Rich, who shrugged. "I've given up on trying to talk sense to her about this stuff."

"But her CORNEAS?" he asked again in disbelief.

"Sure," I told him. "They do cornea transplants all the time."

Brian sat back against the seat and shook his head. "That's just wrong, mom."

"What do you mean?" I asked puzzled.

"Well, first of all, “ he said earnestly, “they've done studies with transplant patients where sometimes the memories of the donor transfer to the person receiving the organ. It's freaky. Vegetarians start craving chicken nuggets, lumberjacks start wearing pink, weird stuff like that."

I nodded. "I know. I read those studies too, Bri. What was that author’s name again? Pearsall, I think it was. But its not like I'm a serial killer or have any bizarre traits to pass on or anything."

My husband cleared his throat but didn't say a word. I shot him a look.

"On top of that," Brian continued. "The whole idea is freaky. I mean what if I ended up dating a girl and found out that you had donated your corneas to her? " He shuddered. "We would be doing something, and suddenly I'd look at her and see your eyes looking back at me. It's just wrong."

I laughed. "Let me get this straight. You don't want me to donate any body parts because you're afraid they will go to a girl that you may someday end up dating?"

"Uh huh. Especially the eye thing."

I batted my eyes at my son. "Hey there, big boy."

"MOM!" Brian yelled, disgusted.

My husband cracked up. He loves it when I tease someone else for a change.

"It's kind of interesting actually," I turned the idea around in my head. "Say, for instance, she asked you to pick up some towels you left on the bathroom floor. You just wouldn't know, would you? Is that her being tidy, or me nagging you from the grave? And in terms of sex---"

"STOP!" Rich and Brian shouted at the same time.

I looked at them innocently. "I was just saying. . . "