10 Things That Scare Me

I just discovered a podcast in which both notable personages and lay-listeners inventory–hey, get this–10 things that scare them. Episodes are short, but their cumulative effect is powerful: everyone has fears and anxieties, and it’s hearteningly equalizing to hear the downloads of others.

Today, as I listened and nodded and laughed and squinted, I started to compile my own list. I suspect, upon reading this or tuning into the podcast, you’ll do the same.

We can’t help it. Fear unites us.

So, here. 10 things that scare me:

1. All rodents, but especially this: when I’m reading on the deck, and the cheeky chipmunk who is the boss of our yard skitters onto my plateau and tosses me an unblinking look of, “Yeah, hi. This is my deck now” before dropping the seed it was carrying and rearing onto its back legs.
2. Forced and enforced conviviality. Also known as “holidays.”
3. Someone touching my children without their consent.
4. Receiving a message that says, “We need you to come in for a meeting as soon as possible.”
5. The way the neighbor boy treats their chickens when he thinks no one’s looking.
6. Three hot hours on the tarmac, plane motionless, with the cabin door sealed.
7. And no food or water in my bag.
8. And a talkative Trumper in the seat next to me.
9. My husband dying before we’re both 97.
10. When the fitness trainer for the TRX class tells us to drop to the floor and put our feet in the straps.

Now. What you got?

Comments

comments