Diary of a Wimpy Adult

Wimp Yourself

I’ve always known it, and yesterday confirmed it, I’m a wimp. Have been since I can remember and there’s no reason to believe I won’t remain that way. It’s caused me grief in the past and probably will in the future, but at my age, I’d say that’s just the way it’s going to be. I’m okay with it.  And I'm okay with my gravestone marker including the quote "she was so nice"...though it would be cool if someone would just go ahead and add "bless her heart" just to humor me.


But why did yesterday confirm it? It was the ten year anniversary of the September 11, 2001 massacre and I couldn’t bring myself to watch any of the reminiscing specials on television. Too much for this nervous, skittish, unassertive, girl who, ironically, was glued to the television back in September of 2001.

So yesterday I avoided the radio and the TV all day long. Despite that, it didn’t stop the world from putting my wimpiness right in front of my face.

We started off the morning with our yoga practice on the porch. It was so peaceful with the birds chirping and splashing around in the fountain. The hummingbirds and honey bees were the only things dive-bombing in the clear blue sky.  Well, that and an angry blue jay.  While I was supposed to be lying still in savasana, I instead watched a squirrel run away from blue jay.  Wimp.

After yoga, we went out to breakfast at Java Jive and sat next to a family of 4 - Mom, Dad, 12 year old daughter and 10 year old son. Daughter had on a fitted t-shirt that said “Be Aggressive!”. Son had a mohawk and a muscle shirt that said “Punish with Power”. Where do they sell these childrens' shirts? Did they make them back in the early 70’s when I was having my first and only fist fight with the neighborhood bully? Nope. I doubt it. I'm pretty sure I lost that fight.  Wimp.

Then we hit the Whole Foods for a few items to get us through the week. I made sure to park us strategically so we wouldn’t have to walk past Pet Smart where they would no doubt have a parade of free puppies, dogs, kittens and cats lined up at the front door on floats worthy of Macy's at Thanksgiving. I just can’t walk past those furry babies without feeling sad and guilty. Wimp.

So after breakfast we came home to again relax on the back porch with those hummingbirds and honey bees. And relaxing it was…until a plane flew overhead. Planes are a normal occurrence since we live only a few miles from the busiest airport in the world - but I swear this plane was flying way too low. I could hear the sputtering engine and all sorts of noises you don’t usually notice. As my blood pressure and heart rate were spiking, I looked up.  Turns out it was just a bi-plane, flying at its typical altitude, out for a Sunday saunter. Wimp!

The rest of the day I moved mushroom logs, used a power drill, raked leaves, pulled weeds by hand, chopped up the rest with the weed eater, and drank a beer.  Not so wimpy I guess! 

Hope your day balanced out like mine did and that you embrace your wimpiness, bitchiness, strength or orneriness - whatever suits you!