Homer? As in . . . . Homer?

I have a younger friend with a highly gifted child, and I think of her so often as we go about our life with a gifted child. It helps me laugh at things and keep a good perspective, especially because this friend is particularly wonderful. Today, we spent all day in the same place, more or less. One of the advantages of homeschooling is that you can pack your books, or iPad or whatever if there's WiFi and you need internet, and you can do school wherever. Today, M was reading the Children's Homer - it's the Wanderings of Odysseus and one other - Trojan horse or Jason & the Fleece - I forget which. Last week, it was the Iliad adapted for kids. Anyway, she was very cooperative, even when required to sit still for as many hours as the average adult on a weekday. An older gentleman kindly expressed interest in what she was reading, saying it looks more complicated than what his granddaughter was reading, and she was 6. She told him it was Homer. He was silent for a full minute and blinked, then looked at me and said, "Homer, as in Greek?" I replied in the affirmative and he was pretty shocked, but complimentary. I would have loved to know what my companion next to me was thinking about the conversation, but will likely never know. Then, a surgeon came to give us a report. She also asked what M was reading, and said, "Wow! Homer . . . as in . . . Homer? I replied that she is unique, and then inquired about the patient, thinking it was an odd and amusing encounter . . . How does this relate to my young friend? Well, I have expressed frustration that we cannot seem to go anywhere that the differences in M are not evident, even when she is not with me. My young friend has not experienced this the same way, and suggested that I make it clear I'm not interested in talking about it and it will essentially go away. I giggled, and reminded her about the personality of my daughter, which shifted her perspective. Don't get me wrong - this is one of my most treasured friends. Her youngest will have similar experiences throughout his life, but I don't think it has begun for her quite yet . . . in time . . . Without any direct interaction, it made today more amusing and less frustrating. Thank God for true friends. And yes, Homer and in Homer. Homer as in Greek. ;)