When I was four, the crazy neighbor lady (who used to yell at her grown bachelor son all day long--one of my earliest memories is the phrase "Gottdamm you, Willie!" wafting down the road to our house) toddled by as I was sitting on the fence and told my mom "You know, she's smarter than she looks!"

A week ago, a friend's mom was visiting as my Celtic/Bluegrass band practiced and told me afterwards, "You've got a great voice! You should work at Disneyworld!" I knew she meant well. I think.

I seem to attract what I like to think of as the "humbling compliment."