Saturday, May 22, 2010

Jumpy

I startle way too easily.  Tap my shoulder when I'm concentrating and I'll leap from the chair.
"I didn't mean to startle you," the embarrassed (or annoyed) party says.  I fear the subtext is: That shouldn't have startled anyone.  What's wrong with you!?
Friends and family are used to it.  Strangers think I'm nuts.   Actually friends and family think I'm a bit nuts too.
I first noticed this in high school.   One day the bell rang and I jumped.  I've been jumping ever since.
Intellectually I know bells, shoulder taps other surprises are harmless.  A more primitive part of my brain must  have other ideas.  "Loud noise?" it reasons,  "Mortal danger!  I repeat, mortal danger!  Dispatch the adrenalin!"
Maybe someday some sense will someday trickle down to the part of my brain that hits the panic button.
Until then, I'll  be jumpy.

6 comments:

RHSteeleOH said...

Hey Jumpy! I love this drawing, it really states your case. You're very talented.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

whoa, you scared me!
Thanks, RHSteeleOH

Sally said...

you are so funny! this blog is getting intense!

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Thanks, Sally!

Linda Davick said...

I love the two colors of eyes and the neck in pieces and especially the chocolate stuff squirting up.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Thanks Linda,
Originally the gag was going to have the body being a cannon shooting out the head, but it was distracting and weird, so I switched tactics.
That's black coffee shooting out of the cup (and yes, it makes the problem worse so I have to be careful not to overdo it.