Melissa Jones

I figured last night that it would be better to be sure than sorry, so I remeasured my upper and lower legs. What I remembered to be almost equal, lower 1/4 inch longer, turned out to be upper leg longer by an inch. I guess I wasn't too careful once I figured my ring finger was equal, because that sealed my fate. All the times I said to myself, "wouldn't it be nutty if I were an explorer" but ignored the actual possibility, are over.

My body type matches explorer best, I'm more muscular than a gatherer, but nowhere near lanky or ectomorphic. My index fingerprints don't match, though I don't have a radial loop, only the more common ulnar loops. My incisors are a bit spade-like, and I have no carabelli's cusp. So, I can hunt a bit, I can gather a bit, but mostly I will explore.

I don't know why I didn't think I could be an explorer. Without BTD I'd be too sensitive to do just about anything, I know that much. There would be migraines, dizziness, spaciness, weakness, headaches, and more dizziness. BTD has helped quite a bit, but there's still a sliver of remaining problems, and I'm hopeful to be able to be comfortable in a house with air fresheners or scented candles (though mine will never have them), or around heavily scented people (though I may never be one).

There seem to be a lot of explorers in may family. We can't have a large family gathering where everyone can eat the same things (and not because anybody but me is following BTD or GTD, because of severe allergies and intolerances). Family gatherings are also quite sparse on the fragrances added to the mix. Gallbladders are disposable in this family, and I'm one of the few who still has one. Anemia is also fairly common and long-term. The celiac disease among more than half of us is more of a hunter trait, but entirely possible in an explorer as well. Adverse reactions to medications are also commonplace in a few of us.

I'm not as athletic as an average hunter. I enjoy working out, but the coordination for sports does not come naturally. I can be clumsy, especially when hormones are fluctuating, and it's not uncommon for me to have some accidental injury here or there on me at any point in time.

This is a big shock to me, even though I see it clearly now. I'm still in shock, but eager to get on track with my new plan. I'm unsure of my new identity, where I fit into it all, but after my immune system downturn, I'm eager for exploring the truth. And hey, if they tell me I'm something different at the clinic, I won't have any trouble adjusting to the other two possibilities. Without this realization today, they might have a fainting explorer in their office when they break me the news. I'm ready for anything! Well I would be a bit surprised to be a Nomad...