Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Writer's Workshop: My name's Jen, and I'm a compulsive worrier

I'm a lot of things.  Moody comes to mind right off the bat, but I'm also happy (one minute, then I'm not. That's the moody), friendly (ask anyone.  No, really.  Anyone), sore (thanks for that, p90x), hungry (and that), and exhausted (and especially that).  And that's just right now.  Let's talk again in 20 minutes and see what's changed. 

Yes, I'm a lot of things.  But most of all, I'm a worrier.

Pretty much all the time.

I've always been this way.  It's an affliction, and I blame my mother (she's one too).  Just to give you an idea, about eight years ago we had a house we were trying to sell.  Of course when you're trying to sell a house, you can pretty much set your watch by the appliances that die after you get it on the market.  So it was no surprise when the fridge made a truly impressive clonking sound and then simply stopped working. 

What was a surprise was the water that started leaking from the ceiling roughly 36 hours after we installed the new fridge and hooked up the water line. 

You see, roughly 36 hours is how long it takes to step on and crack the water hose that you rigged across the attic Swiss Family Robinson style and have the water slowly leak from the hose, soak the massive layers of insulation, keep trucking right through the sheet rock, and settle in a nice little pocket between something and something else, both of which I couldn't name if I tried because I am not a builder of houses.  But our first indication was 36 hours later, when that first fat drop finally soaked it's way through and landed on my head as I happened to walk beneath.  Upon further investigation we found several fun pockets of water (by shoving a screwdriver through the ceiling several times in several spots.  You can imagine how it looked by the time we were done with it.  Did I mention that it was FOR SALE?!) and several spots in an adjacent wall where water had run ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR and warped our baseboards.  Not happy. 

Where was I?  Oh, right.  Worry.

So, did I fix it and forget it?  No.  I spent the rest of our time living there with our house for sale and in escrow pacing the house in the wee hours of the morning, listening for leaks and drips and all manner of flowing water where water should not flow.  And when I did sleep I dreamed that there was water flowing down our walls like good ole Niagara.  If there was a rainstorm, I would rove from window to window checking the drains outside to make sure they were clear so that the coming flood was not making it's way under our door.  Yup, chock full of worry.  That's how I roll.

What did T do while I was doing all this worrying?  He slept.  Because his theory is that it's going to do what it's going to do, and being sleep deprived helps no one.  He's just so frickin' practical like that.

I've really got to learn that lesson.  But in the meantime, if you find yourself unable to sleep at some uncivilized hour of the morning, think of me.  Chances are extremely good that I am awake worrying about something.


6 comments:

  1. Hi, My name is Anita. I am a compulsive worrier too! Isn't that what moms do? I found your blog on Mama Kat's page! And so glad I did. I look forward to seeing what you write next:)

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  2. I think we all worry. It is something that I am constantly working at, which inspired my blogging as an outlet for the things in life.
    I am now following you.


    I found you at Mama Kat's page too! :)

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  3. Thank you so much for the encouragement, ladies! @Anita, you are so right - I've always been a world class worrier, but the second my first child was born, it shot up to epic proportions! Good to know you feel the same way.

    @Optimistic Mom, that is a major reason that I am here too. I need an outlet for many things, and worry is right up there at the top of the list!

    Visited, laughed and loved both of your sites. Can't wait to read more! :)

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  4. Oh, to be less of a worrier and more of a practical realist. I would love that. If you figure out how, let me know :)

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  5. I hear you, Kimberly! If I ever find the answer I'll let you know. So far, the only answer I've come up with is to be a man, so that's not going to work. :-)

    Thanks for stopping by! Come back soon!

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  6. I'm the opposite, so not a worrier. But, if something like this happened, I would totally freak!

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