Expedition, Mount St. Blog~Day 1
~I can Climb it~ No Problem
It would be an omission if I didn’t admit I’ve had a couple of panic moments over the last 24 hours. I would also be omitting if I didn’t fess up that it occurred to me April 1st was a classic practical joke day. So simple! I could weasel out of my April 30 day/30 entries public declaration of yesterday and say, “Hahaha, April Fools, just kidding, what? Oh, you believed me….Do you think I’m high?”
But when it comes down to it, this is about me, myself and I. High on words or not, I want to see if I can do this, I’ll learn to love it, or I end up hating it. Only time shall reveal all~ No April Fools scapegoat for me.
So I went to the bookstore yesterday. I love a good bookstore. It’s quiet, it’s full of words and books and magazines and the good ones have cushy chairs. I didn’t have a specific selection in mind, so I went about a typical routine of seek and select. This entails walking in circles waiting for the right title, or book cover to capture my attention. Nothing exceptional or interesting about that~
However, yesterday, I was interrupted by these sounds. Sounds I doubt I can capture with the alphabet, for there are no words to describe. There was a man perusing for books just like I was. Except, unlike me who respects and adheres to the unspoken rule of ‘shut the hell up in a book store,’ he was making noises, lots of them.
At first I thought a sickly kitten with a tuba stuck in it’s throat had been abandoned in a aisle because I could hear this man long before I could see him. Mewing loudly under ones breath is a distraction in a book store, just so we’re clear about that. After the pathetic mewwing, he would sigh, long and drawn out….Hummmm and just as he was almost out of breath from his humming release, he’d gut out, “Dinger”…… (Customer Service, aisle 9, we have a Hummmmm, dinger situation). Then he would gag a bit, clear his throat and start over again. Meeeewwwwwaaaa……..Hummmmmmm dinger….OHHHoohhhOOOhOyie…..Ahhhhhhyyyaaaaaahumph with a few guttural grunts for exclamation. Over and Over AND Over.
I went in for a better look, I couldn’t help myself. It was an easy audio track down, just follow the sounds of an animal dying of disease. I’m not sure what I expected, but the man was wearing a suit, had a slight comb over and appeared to have all 10 fingers.Clearly Human. I didn’t see a kitten tucked into his breast pocket like a handkerchief and I didn’t see an oxygen tank or any other indication of necessary air/noise release. He was just doing it as part of his pick up a book, read the back cover, meow in disappointment, moan in joy, move to the next book process. Occasionally, he would break from the incoherent and exclaim, “Yes, oh this one looks good,” then punctuate his discovery with Yaaaaaaa~
Perhaps there is a good explanation for the mans behaviors, one that may even need a politically correct label. I get that. The possibility is there. Perhaps the man just finds books and all their glory so tantalizing he must moan and croon and can’t contain his emotions. Either way, for the innocent (quiet) bystander like me, it sure makes for an interesting, if not highly distracting, journey through a bookstore.
And that, is just my observation for the day~
Rebeccca,
I learned that it is easy to take on, what we think. is a tough job. All you have to do is what you do best, one day at a time. Don’t think about tomorrow, Friday or next Tuesday….just today. It feels funny giving even a little advise to someone I admire. You can do it, just don’t think about it.
I loved you missives about your girls. We have so much in common. Some day I’ll send you a snail mail or we can share a cup of coffee and share.
As always, smiles,
David
You know, I hate people who do not adhere to the ‘shut the hell up’ in a book store rule. I mean if there was a true issue, okay. But just to be standing there making all that noise, um, no. I am rooting for you on your 30 entries in 30 days. I know you can do it!!!
The former business manager of a Neurology practice says: Tourettes, with both physical & verbal ticcing. And I’m betting you his life is hell, since people tend to think they can “Help it” if they really try hard.~Mary
Mary’s last blog post..Architecture of a relationship
check out the book promoted here: http://www.oliviagentile.com
I haven’t read it but it sound really excellent.
Marc’s last blog post..April Fools 2012
It must be some sort of compulsive disorder where they have to do something in a particular order before they get onto the next stage. There’s a woman we see walking near us every day the same route and she has to do the same things in the same places each day, like walking three times around a lamp post before carrying on or stopping for thirty seconds on the spot before walking forwards again.
I’m a hummer. I hum melodies, little snippets of songs, without really being aware that I’m doing it. I also mumble to myself on occassion. When I consciously recognize that I’m making sounds, I stop, but most of the time I’m unaware of my noise contribution. The only saving grace is that people tell me that I have a lovely singing voice!
I also wondered if there might be Tourette’s involved.
Or maybe he just has no idea he is making such noises. I won’t go so far as to say it’s sacrilege to make such noises in a book store, but it’s pretty damn close. It’s akin to a library. I don’t know about you, but I concentrate when I’m looking at books. It’s serious business. Extraneous noise is very distracting!
And you’re off to a good start!
B.
Beth’s last blog post..Who knows what lies beneath?
Am I out of line for suggesting that if he is already making that much noise, a good side kick to the knee would put him on the ground screaming but at least then the ambulance would get him out of there? I’m just sayin’
Chris’s last blog post..Grits. They’re Not Just For Breakfast Anymore.
hahaha…at least it made it interesting…
~K
It is so nice to take a child out into the world with me. When I am talking to myself, people don’t look at me funny anymore.
I do try to stay quiet in bookstore though.
ellyn’s last blog post..Don’t Look Too Close
I saw your blog on twittermoms, and I’m glad I dropped by. This reminds me of a guy I used to see on the bus reading a book. Right before he turned a page, he would pause, look around, and then make those hmmmm noises.
Borders is our store…and I go once a month with 5 count them “FIVE grandkidz” I want them to love books as I have. They spread out taking single books at a time, flipping through the pages and making a stack of those they love and returning others. It is without exaggeration 3 hours and sometimes longer event. They each get $20.00…buy what you want.
It hurts when the pile exceeds what I can spend for a individual and I have to make them choose. We are not always so quiet, there is alot of ” Oh grama LOOK AT THIS ONE!” I love it…we also go to the library. A great point you made…this world is full of noise. I am sure we are annoying…but excuse because of their ages. Trust me they are not excuse at the coffee bar!
Hugs TJ
TJ’s last blog post..My spotlight on Writer’s Corner..thank you for the Inspiration
What you’ve never “meowed in disappointment” before? Just kidding!
Best of luck the your 30/30 challenge!
Oh, this is great. My girlfriend from SF, moved to NJ, visiting this week was over last nite (with her lil man, joseph) and we were talking about this very thing; browsing bookstores or music store and finding something intriguing the intuitive way—I love that. It has served me quite well to search in this way over the years, have had more success with books than with music doing the selections based on gut instinct. I can’t say I have had your exact experience with the noise man, but I so relate. After I had Arlise, (mommy nervous system in overdrive), it seemed that every stinkin place I went, the loud people followed me—it was quite annoying. I even dated a guy once that I broke up with because he ate too loudly—yep, crazy good ears here.
you are the best, for giving us this daily gift, really
jana’s last blog post..Light and Friends
Where are the “Bookstore police” when you need them …
Day 1 down — 100 more to go! you can sooo do it!
i’m excited for you– i think you’ll THRIVE doing this. i did it in november for 30 days and it was challenging, but i really loved it.
as for the strange man, i am at a loss for words ha ha ha.
Heather’s last blog post..Home.