Who's Afraid of The Big Bad Wolf?

I found out something today that just floored me. I found out that my friend Ms. Quasimodo has an extreme fear of embarrassing herself in public … and even a little in private. Now you might just say “Hey, me too! What’s the big deal then?” and you would be right because I can’t think of when I was just sitting around wishing for a good public embarrassment but this is a bit different or at least it seems different to me.

My friend, Ms. Q, hasn’t ever put on a costume (which precludes trick or treating which is a crime in my sugar-crazed eyes), she has never sat on Santa’s lap (why would my mother want me to sit with a strange man?), and she ever exercised in public (no gym for this gal) or even in front of her husband. Well, you could have bowled me over with a feather! If she only could see me in step class!! I mean if I am still the barometer for all things spastic in that class, even after 6 months, then I can’t imagine not being able to exercise … in front of your husband of 30 years no less! Really, I don’t know what to say.

My sister-in-law (not Megara who probably isn’t afraid of anything) recently revealed to me that she is afraid to travel by herself. Now, I have known this woman for 25 years, she has traveled all over the world (and back again … multiple times), she is an amazingly strong woman both physically and mentally and here I come to find out that she won’t travel alone! She is afraid of getting lost. She won’t even get on an airplane alone because the person that she is visiting might not be there to meet her and then she might get lost. She is TERRIFIED of this! And I never knew!!! I never suspected. It makes me kind of sad.

It does make me wonder what other deep fear-induced behaviors (or in this case, non-behaviors) are lurking amongst my friends and family (please feel free to share in the comments section … or, if your fear is public writing, then in an email).

As for me, I have a very, very strong fear of heights. I know that that is a pretty normal one but it is what it is. I remember when Pumpkin and I were in a church that was being renovated (I think that we were in Austria) and they had scaffolding set up so that you could climb up and look at the domed ceiling I got about 2/3rds of the way up and then started to cry. Yes, actual crying. I was soooo terrified and I had already climbed so far over my personal fear / height (especially when the stairs are grated so that you can see through) that my body actually made me stop by having me burst into tears. I will never forget it. If we had lived in that town I would have forced myself to climb up and down those stairs every day so that I would get used to it! No, really, I would have.

Any suggestions on how I can help my friends / family? Should I even try? Is it my business? Why would I? Why does it bother me so much when if I had heard that they were afraid of heights … or snakes … or other “normal” fears I wouldn’t have given it another thought? Hmmm…

Have a wonderful fear-free day!

Ella

PS Don't think that I forgot about my Picture of the Day! I just needed a bit of inspiration. I was going to photograph my filing cabinet as I have been filing today but I ended up taking a photo of my chicken soup. Yes, I am getting sick again!!! I can hardly believe it. I mean, wasn't I sick just a few weeks ago??? I have been feeling pretty weak this week as you know and quite drained of energy but I put it down to jet lag ... well, I did sort of. I had that niggly feeling in the back of my neck that it might be a bit more than that. And, sadly, I was right. So, hello Flu, goodbye Jet Lag ... and Hello Chicken Soup.