Everyone has at least one ‘irrational’ fear….my granddaughter’s is spiders, my ‘other sister’ fears thunderstorms.
What’s mine?
I don’t think they’re that irrational……Falling, and my eye phobia.
While talking to Mom this summer, I think I know where my fear of falling originated. I’d known about the story of me (age 2) falling into the pool while on vacation in Gatlinburg, TN, and my grandfather joking that I’d broken the steps. But what I didn’t know was that my grandmother, who was right there, turned and walked away! My mother is the one who jumped up from her deck chair and dove in after me.
You’d think this would have made me terrified of water, but no, I’m a fish; I spend more time under the water than on top of it…..at least, until my ear issues, and now it hurts if I put my head under water. But I digress.
I also remember being forced onto the giant slides (the ones where you climb up with rugs to sit on), and screaming all the way down. Same with the log flume ride…..and age 5, I was thrilled to try out the Scooby Doo Roller Coaster at King’s Island…..until the 1st hill. I wanted off, and promptly threw up after getting off. The closest thing to a roller coaster I ride now is the now-gone Tumble Bug, with its 3 hills. Or the thing I rode at our county fair, which was part Tilt-A-Whirl and part kiddie coaster!
Another disclaimer: I also have trouble coming DOWN on high elevators. I have no issues going UP, but have trouble coming DOWN. I did make it down from the Seattle Space Needle; I just closed my eyes and held onto the elevator railing. I do NOT have an issue with a slow-moving gondola-style ferris wheel, so can’t explain that one!
My other ‘irrational’ fear is anyone coming near my eyes with ANYTHING.
Before I started school, it was discovered I was extremely near-sighted. Those drops back in 1971? Stung like the dickens, and of course, when I was 5, I was not exactly a cooperative kid. The only time I was ‘cooperative’ was the time my sister had to have her eyes checked, and I tried to be a good example. But oh, how I HATED those eye exams!
Fast-forward to my 14th birthday. My cousin and I had gotten our 1st makeup kits, so we obviously decided to try everything out. Things were going well, until Chelle accidentally poked me in the eye with the mascara wand. To this day, if anyone wants to put makeup on me, fine, but let me do my own damn mascara!
I was diagnosed with an early case of glaucoma at age 49, and that nearly killed me. No longer could I take the ‘puff’ test; I had to endure sitting still while someone touched my eyeball with the sensor. After probably 30 minutes, they finally got my eyes to cooperate, and got the pressure number. When I went in for the lazer treatment, I’d talked about my fears to the doc, who told me to take something to relax me. I chose tequila…..and discovered that after 5 shots of tequila on an empty stomach, they can poke my eye with whatever they want! So I started getting buzzed every time I had to return for a pressure test. 5 shots of tequila is fine; 8 was too much. I was so relieved when it was over, I admit to being a giggly, drunk mess as we left the office, even drunk-texting one of my friends until I could get home to sleep it off.
So yes, while I admit to having an irrational fear of falling and of things poking me in the eye, can you see how they’re actually quite RATIONAL fears?
Want to know what others are afraid of?
See you next week!
Update On My Parents:
When I arrived last week, I found my dad not feeling well, and having issues with his blood pressure. He finally began feeling better on Sunday, though he didn’t eat from Wed-Fri. I drove Mrs. Sato, the Japanese lady my father ‘chauffeurs’ around three mornings a week, to her appointments on Thurs and Fri, and she was thrilled to see me again.
Mom’s doing soooo much better! She can get out of the car by herself now, but still needs the wheelchair. Neurology appointment didn’t answer any questions, other than he didn’t think she was a surgical candidate. Mom really wanted to talk to her former doctor, and was thrilled to see him that night at the same restaurant they went to, and he told her he’s subbing three days a week, and to call the office. Her appointment is today, so hopefully next week I’ll have an update.
Dad’s finally back to normal, and I was supposed to go home today, but both parents have requested me back for ‘one more week’. In the meantime, it’s become a joke around my house that I’ve actually divorced my hubby, but just not legally…..*eye roll* During that week I was home, I got the house in order, took 3 loads of stuff from the brown house to auction, and took one load of stuff to charity. I’m finally getting that house cleared of clutter!
Have a great week!
Molly's Musings/Kenzie's Korner 