What’s with the Waddle ?

For years I have been disturbed by my wrinkly neck, what I called my waddle.  Therefore, as is the norm for me I decided to write about this issue.  But, before I expressed my personal feelings on the subject the educator in me decided to do some research.  I thought getting a specific definition about my waddle would be a good place to start.  Boy, was I surprised by what I learned!!

I went to the Internet dictionary and found these definitions.

Miriam-Webster dictionary has some things to say about a waddle:

• to walk with short steps swinging the forepart of the body from side to side
• to move clumsily in a manner suggesting a waddle
• an awkward clumsy swaying gait

Examples of waddle in a sentence: He waddled down the hallway. A fat goose waddled across the yard.

Although I feel like my saggy neck often looks like it is moving clumsily and swinging from side to side, none of these definitions seem to fit for the waddle that I am experiencing.

It seems I have had it wrong all these years.  I thought the term was waddle. Come to find out I was researching the wrong spelling.  I found out the correct term is wattle. Back to the research. What does the Internet say about the wattle?

• Wikipedia states: In turkeys, the wattle is a flap of skin hanging under the chin connecting the throat and head. (This seems to be a better, if not depressing, definition of what I am experiencing.)
• pureluxemedical.com says: Turkey neck affects the underlying muscles and elasticity of the skin on the neck, which is why it ends up looking loose, dangling and shows wrinkly folds that look very much like a turkey’s wattle.
• The Seattle Times states: It’s no secret that aging takes a toll on the skin, and one common manifestation is “turkey neck,” which occurs when the skin in the chin and neck area becomes loose and saggy. Turkey neck is caused by the weakening of the neck muscles, along with the skin losing its elasticity — both of which are a normal, if unfortunate, part of the aging process.

OMG — I am related to a turkey!

©bcreed