My Phone Phobia-kinda long, kinda weird

[Cindyluwho]

Reading the other thread about kids answering the phone reminded me of this for some reason. Once a year we drive a local celebrity in the West Seattle Parade. Now, this particular celebrity meant a whole lot to me when I was a little kid. I watched him every morning before I went to school and he visited my cousin in the hospital when he had open heart surgery at age 5 (this was wayyy back in 1966). His TV name is JP Patches,his real name is Chris Wedes. Anyway, a couple of weeks before the parade he always calls to confirm and to say hi. I see his name on the caller ID and I cannot, absolutely cannot pick up the phone. He leaves a message on the answering machine and of course my husband sees it when he comes home and listens to the darned thing. This is how our conversation goes:
DH: I see Chris Wedes called.
me: Yeah, I saw it on the caller ID when he called.
DH: why didn't you pick it up?
me: ummmm, I was busy
DH: did you call him back?
me: no
DH: well, what did he want?
me: I don't know
DH: we've been over this a million times. Just call him, maybe it's important.
me: you call him
DH: Geez, Cynthia, why can't you just talk to him on the phone? You talk to him all day on parade day. What's the big deal?
me: I can't - he's JP Patches!!
DH: You are so weird!!

Oh, and it's not just JP Patches that freaks me out! I can't call and order Pizza either. It drives my husband absolutely nuts! JP & Pizza - who knew??

 

[AC7179]

I have phone anxiety too---it's crazy. It REALLY throws me when people answer in ways they aren't supposed to or "tease" me on the phone. It can bring me to tears!

 

[Sleepy]

Oh, I remember him! He had that little doll called Esmeralda! I watched him all the time back in the 70's. We moved from the Seattle area back in 81.

As far as the phone phobia. I have that. Sometimes I just can't bring myself to answer the phone and can't be the one to initiate a call. My husband thinks I am silly. I just don't like talking on the phone. I am afraid I will say something stupid or not have anything at all to say.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

I'm one of those people who just doesn't like to talk on the phone. I run out of things to say. I have a SIL who can talk your ear off. I just prefer a quick little email.

 

[sherry]

Here is more support for the "phone phobia's". I truly dislike talking on the phone and I don't know why.

 

[KimR]

I think it's the ADD in me, but I hate, hate, hate talking on the phone! Especially when it's someone who just talks and talks and won't let you go. My sitter does this too me all the time and it's gotten to the point DH and I fight over who has to talk to her when she calls! The other night I even tried pretending my kids needed me for something. I had to yell downstairs to nobody 'I'll be right down!' TWICE before I could get her off the phone. I much prefer email.

 

[Val]

I have the same problem...oh, and I would absolutely DIE if JP Patches called me....I remember JP (and being on his show with my Camp fire girls group! We thought we'd died and gone to heaven)....and Esmerelda and Boris and Stan and all the others- remember the chicken that lived in the oven? Wasn't there a monster in the basement, too- a Furple or something? JP always gave us safety lessons and made sure we left on time for school, too (or so I thought). He's a REAL celebrity to me! And just think- you got to sit by him and talk to him during the parade.

Oh, I sure miss Seafair. I HATE living in the midwest!!! Nothing like sitting on the lakeshore and watching the boats go by, and the Torchlight parade....oh, now I am SO homesick!