Phobophobia

I'm not usually one for posting YouTube videos, but this one has caused quite a stir in my household today...

And for good reason, I'll admit. Brian has the world's worst case of Ophidiophobia (fear of snakes) that I've ever seen in a grown man, and his loving wife decided to email this video to him while he was working at the tax office today. I got an email back (not the most loving email I've ever received) explaining how he had "customers" sitting in the office when he screamed out loud. I had to laugh just picturing it.

Now, he says, "It's ON!" In other words, he'll be lying in wait for the first opportunity to scare me half to death. We both distinctly remember the last time he scared me. It was when we were living in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, and I was baking a batch of cookies for our friend Jason. I had the hiccups pretty badly, but I was determined to finish the cookies before Jason arrived. Brian decided to go into the hallway outside our kitchen and knock on the wall. I assumed (as Brian knew I would) that it was Jason knocking on our door. I turned the corner down the hallway, and Brian screamed "boo!" in my face.

I then broke into the worst case of the sobs I've had since I started going through puberty. I couldn't stop crying to save my life. I probably cried for about ten minutes until he finally managed to calm me down. I kept saying, "WHY did you scare me?" He felt about as horrible as I've ever seen a person feel. But he made the mistake of responding with, "Well, at least you don't have the hiccups any more!" It was that day he first experienced how uncomfortable it was to sleep on the couch.

This whole snake video reminded me of what a fear I have of being afraid. In other words, I have Phobophobia - a phobia of phobias. I guess we could chalk it up to a childhood filled with moments where dad would scare mom, and mom would start crying. Drew would scare mom, and mom would pee her pants and then hit Drew a few times. Drew would scare me, and I'd start crying. Drew and I would scare dad, and we'd both get a spanking. I can't count the number of times we heard mom scream and then say, "Geeeeeeearld, you just made me wet my pants!"

I guess this joy of scaring one another is what led us to create the annual Christmas Dinner and a Scary Movie. This started the first year I met my best friends Heather and Bo (help me out on the year, everyone). For some odd reason, we decided to have a Christmas dinner at my parents' house and then watch a movie. Somehow it turned out to be a scary movie, and the tradition has stuck ever since. Hopefully, we'll be able to continue that tradition once Brian and I are back Stateside. There are few things more enjoyable than watching my dad scream like a little girl.

Speaking of screaming like little girls, I'm so sorry I didn't wait to show Brian that video when I could see his reaction! I'm just afraid he might have kicked me to the curb...which might exacerbate my Agyrophobia (fear of crossing streets).

What are your phobias, our dear readers? There sure are some interesting ones out there. For instance, Anglophobia is the fear of the English or the English culture. Can you imagine being terrified of good manners and teatime? That baffles me.

Check out this list of phobias to get you started.

Comments

[Gman]

Katy,

I must say that I feel I am getting a bum rap here. As Barney Fife always said "there is nothing to fear but fear itself". That was Barney that said that wasn't it? Anyhow I must clear up a few things.

1.) I NEVER spanked you or Drew for scaring me....it was for being disrespectful. Honestly, I'm pretty sure you did NOT get spanked for a prank.
2.) The only fear I have is the fear of heights.....oh and rats....snakes.......roaches......opossum...

Sorry I've got to go now and breathe into a paper bag.

Love you,

G (I ain't afraid) Man

[Katy]

I KNOW you didn't spank us for practical jokes, but it sure did make the story more dramatic. :-)

[Brian]

Now I'm scared of our website. I can't even look at the homepage without seeing that snake. Let me also say that Katy has not had the hiccups since we lived in Florida. My tactics were VERY effective.

[Lori Griffin]

something inappropriate and loud just came out of my mouth after that video......how mean of you after I enjoyed and laughed while reading your blog.

i'm horrified of any and all rodents - raccoons and possums count. i have had more contact with them than i care to admit. however spiders dont scare me near as bad as crickets and grasshoppers do -- not a fan of jumping things - even frogs scare me.

i am easily the easiest person to scare - and i will scream as if i have just been stabbed....even if you tell me its about to happen - its simply uncontrollable.

the other day i was sitting in a grocery store parking lot checking my list before i exited the car....a 60 yr man from our church saw me, came over and tapped on my window........i looked up, saw him, and then still screamed long and loud as if he had an ax headed for my skull - bless his heart, he looked horrified - i was so embarrassed. whats sad is, that he could've called me earlier and warned me up front and it would've been just as loud. i can't help it - - i'm a screamer.

emily, our youngest, is scared to death of having her toenails clipped and is very convinced they are going to come off at least twice a day - i think she needs counseling.

(i'm not afraid of capital letters here -- just lazy)

oh well - love your blogs - just havent ever posted anything.
your dad's bday one was really cute.
keep up the good work.