Growing up, I always hid my thumbs（拇指）in my fists because of their unusual shape1they do look more like a big toe（脚趾）2 a thumb. And from an early age, my thumbs3another name “toe thumbs” .

    In high school, I served as a cashier in a grocery store. One day, I was4 a sweet little old lady and as I5 her change back to her, she suddenly took my hands and said in a thick Polish6“You are Polish! Look at those7Polish thumbs! They match mine!” She raised her hands and8her thumbs to me that9 weathered and wrinkled, looked exactly like mine! She10my hands again and said, “Be11of those thumbs!”

    I'll never forget that 30-second12with a stranger that forever13my view of a part of me I once was14by and now accept. As I was eating dinner with my Samuel tonight, he looked down at my hand15 on the table next to his and said, “Mommy! Our thumbs16 !” I smiled and answered, “Yes, they do, buddy! Those are strong Polish 17 you have! Take pride in them! Maybe someday you'll have a little boy or girl who will have the same thumbs!” I 18my son never hides his thumbs like I did. I hope he'll be proud of their “unusualness” and the19 behind them. He carries on a(n)20 part of me and that for me will always be beautiful!