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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Susan47 on September 7, 2004, at 14:51:20
An announcer on one of our local radio stations just said that she and her husband were like sardines in a school gymnasium waiting out a hurricane for 26 hours. She said it was boring, and right away I thought how unfortunate for her: how could a situation like that be boring? I could write a whole book on the people around me; their looks at each other, the little squabbles over irritations. Who's related to who and how? What might so-and-so's ancestry be and why do I think that? Oh, the one I thought mother and son are really aunt and adopted newphew; I heard her talking about his mother, her sister, in rehab. I mean, stuff like that, you know?
I don't mean to say that it would be a physically comfortable situation at all, not in the least, and I'm learning to be a person who really cares about physical comfort for the first time (finally slowed down on walking and bumping into things, yay!!!). But (preposition, sorry) what about the human drama, all the little things that make human stories similar? What about finding myself a bit in this person here, that person over there, and the little girl curled up over there? (Ew ew ew, this sounds like therapy!)
I mean I really find that fascinating, and having a chance to observe many different types of people in a stressful situation like that, where it's hard if not impossible to hide your *true self*, would *not* be *boring*. A lot of other things, yes. But *boring*? My definition of boring is the person who feels that way isn't very interesting. No offense intended to anyone. At all.
Posted by Dinah on September 7, 2004, at 16:21:21
In reply to I don't understand this., posted by Susan47 on September 7, 2004, at 14:51:20
Perhaps it was anxiety? I think sometimes when I get anxious, it comes across as a turning inward and sleepiness that could easily be confused with boredom. Or perhaps boredom was more acceptable for her to admit than discomfort at being so near to so many other people. Something like that.
So do I understand correctly that you had to evacuate to a shelter for Francis (or Frances)? Is everything ok where you are?
Posted by Susan47 on September 7, 2004, at 22:12:14
In reply to Re: I don't understand this. » Susan47, posted by Dinah on September 7, 2004, at 16:21:21
Anxiety is a good point, Dinah. Thanks for responding. It helps to be reminded that there're reasons why people feel the way they do. Maybe she just used a word that didn't best describe her feelings? And thank you for asking, I'm nowhere near hurricane country. I feel badly for those who are, though.
Posted by Dinah on September 7, 2004, at 23:00:48
In reply to Re: I don't understand this., posted by Susan47 on September 7, 2004, at 22:12:14
Just a bit of projection on my part, I imagine. Crowds make me dreadfully uncomfortable, and I would find being stuck in a hurricane shelter with even the most interesting and congenial strangers packed to the gills beside me a horrible ordeal that I would only be able to get through by blanking out.
I'm guessing I wouldn't remember a thing afterwards. I don't even remember very much at all of my wedding, and that was a *good* crowd situation.
Posted by Susan47 on September 7, 2004, at 23:54:10
In reply to Re: I don't understand this. » Susan47, posted by Dinah on September 7, 2004, at 23:00:48
I think the word "bored" triggered my reaction to what she said. I can certainly understand concepts like *stressed*, frightened, angry, anxious, and all those things have caused me to lose memories too...
Yes, I missed both my weddings :()
Posted by AuntieMel on September 9, 2004, at 23:29:40
In reply to Re: I don't understand this., posted by Susan47 on September 7, 2004, at 22:12:14
I live in hurricane country, though luckily just enough inland that I wouldn't evacuate. The crowds would drive me nuts - and I would be horribly bored. That long in one place with nothing to do? I can't stay still that long.
This is the end of the thread.
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