Ruby, that's not funny at all, that would be hard to get over . . . especially since you were so young.

Mine are more social things. I'm not a social misfit, I just get uncomfortable when I have to interact with small groups of people I don't know. I just never know what to say or I'm "afraid" I'll say something stupid.

It doesn't bother me to be in crowds or around other people, I just don't like being the center of attention in a crowd. Public speaking is the last thing I would want to do. I am to start playing bass at my church next weekend. I'm already REALLY nervous about it but I want to do it bad enough I'm going to push through it. Since I know most of the people at church pretty well, that won't be near as bad as being in front of strangers.

It was funny . . . a lady at our church was trying to get me to take a part in a skit. She can't understand why anyone would be "afraid" to be up in front of people like that. One day I was hanging over the edge of the roof at church doing some minor repairs when that same lady came by. She was freaking out just watching me. I told her to come on up and help. After she described her fear of being on the roof, I explained to her I feel the same way when I think about being up in front of all those people. She hasn't asked me to do anyhing since.

Bees.  And I don't know why.  I have never been stung.  When I was kid I used to go looking for hives.  I would throw sticks at them, spray water, shoot my BB gun and begin running.  I would wait for the hive to calm down then go back again.  Wasps were especially intriguing to me with those papery nests.  I even went up to one with a baseball bat, swung knocked the thing and dropped my bat and ran.  For some reason as I got older I began to fear them.

Here is a very funny story.  I was taking a co-worker home from work one day.  I made her get rid of the bee that was in my car before we got in the car.  Left the windows open.

So here we are sitting at a stop light, very busy intersection.  She lets out this gasp.  It was an ungodly sound to me.  I thought there was another bee in the car, so I got out and ran.  Left her sitting in the car, as it gently rolled into the intersection of busy traffic I did not even bother to put it in Park.  I just bailed.  Thank heavens no auto damage or any one was hurt.  The reason for her gasp.  She forgot to punch out.

That is when I moved to California--now of course we have the Killer Bees in the Valley.  Had a swarm go thru the yard the other day, doubt it was killer bees, but I was beyond freaked.  It was just this cloud looking thing and then next thing I know this massive swarm was buzzing about us.  I honestly thought I would have a stroke on the spot I was so scared.  But they passed peacefully through and fortunately didn't land in my yard for a rest.

CP, maybe you're afraid the bees will come back for revenge?

I love heights!  I can't wait to bungee jump or skydive!  Bugs, snakes, mice, etc., usually are no problem.  (Except for cockroaches, but I'm not scared of them, I just don't want them in my house, for obvious reasons.  And I really don't like earwigs.  I've stepped on one before, and those pinchers in back really do work, but I just don't like them, I wouldn't say I'm afraid of them.)  Now, I don't like bugs on me, but again, I think it's a natural reaction, not fear.

No, I'm claustophobic.  When my father-in-law was in the hospital, they wouldn't let you use the stairwell unless it was an emergency.  It was only two floors, but you should see how tight I held on to the handrail and how close I was to that door.  I like every room to have a window.  The bathrooms in our house are in the middle and don't have windows, and if it's only my husband and I, I leave the door open.  And rooms with too many people in them, if I can't move, I start to panic.  I have a hard time going to the grocery store on really busy days.  If I can't easily move down the aisle, I start to get agitated.  I'm good at hiding it, but people who really know me can tell that something is wrong.

I can see that JD.  I don't like ladders that don't feel stabil.  If it teeters, or if some needs to hold it, I just don't feel safe.  Again, I think that's more common sense than a fear.

Why do I have this image of JD being chased by a black, hairy stepladder with 8 legs...?

This story reminded me of this thread!
Bees freak me out to!

Over 10,000 Killer Bees Found In Ceiling Of Miami Apartment

POSTED: 12:47 pm EDT October 4, 2006

Two Miami roommates needed help to get rid of some unwanted visitors in their apartment. They discovered more than 10,000 bees in their kitchen ceiling.

Javier Tovar didn't know the hive was there until he tried to change a bulb in a ceiling light and the bees attacked him.

The roommates quickly called in an exterminator.

"We thought maybe there may be a fist-size hive, but he just pulled out a basketball-sized hive. It's amazing," Tovar said.

The exterminator discovered that the hive belongs to a colony of Africanized bees, which are even more aggressive than normal bees.

And he thought it was just the lights buzzing! Sheez!