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Monday, October 26, 2009

Shhh. There’s No Need for Us to Speak.

I wake up slowly, reluctantly. Often, my dream-life – where I am an accomplished something-or-other and can run long distances without feeling that I’m being chased by two large puppies – is more fulfilling than my waking life. Awakening to discover that a cat has barfed on something, that the seasons continue to move, irrevocably, toward Mother-Nature-is-trying-to-kill-you weather, or that it is still part of the work week is always confusing to me, and it will be a good hour after waking that I will accept my station in life.

I’ve never been an early-morning kind of gal. Unfortunately, my part of the world is enamored of early morning, despite repeated letters of complaint from me to those I perceive to be in charge, and so things remain as they have since I first showed up.

Having failed my first chance at not being forced into preparing for my work day before the sun comes up, i.e., being born to wealthy parents, I have been forced to play along and get a first-shift job.

Which brings us to the bus stop.

Must we speak? There are a number of reasons that I am wearing headphones, and one of them is so that I don’t have to interact with people until I’m awake. It is 7:15 a.m. – is a nod and the words “Good morning” not enough? Because “Good morning” I can deliver.

I may be upright and dressed, but don’t mistake those things for proof that I am awake.

I’m not anti-social so much as I am dazed. I’m not trying to be rude. Why, I had a discussion with a woman just a couple days ago.

Did I think it was dark?

Yes.


Did I think it was getting colder?

Most certainly – and bound to get colder yet.


What was I listening to?

Oh, a collection of stuff – it’s on shuffle...


There was more, but the bus was on the horizon and I was fixated on it.

Look. I’m not an ogre – just a woman coming to grips with another workday.

So please, my bus-sharing compadre, my fellow standing-in-liner, let us agree to nod, to smile, to acknowledge one another, to even sit together in the pre-dawn prelude to the day.

But let’s leave the mystery intact.

You had me at “Good morning”.

28 comments:

Mandy_Fish said...

I have never understood why people insist on speaking to us if we are wearing headphones or reading a book. This must be the universal sign for "Don't talk to me."

*Sigh*

Ms Sparrow said...

Maybe things will improve when you get your magnificent new mattress.
You'll jump out of bed "bright-eyed and bushy-tailed" and rush to the bus stop to chat up all the droopy-eyed slobs whose brains are still in sleep mode.

Menopausal New Mom said...

Amen! The reason for wearing headphones in the first place is to just zone out. If we wanted to mingle, we wouldn't be wearing them.

Deb

darsden said...

YES, especially on Mondays!!! I love the mornings but I love them quiet with my coffee. I usually don't seek out conversion till sometime after 10 am use to be Noon, but the folks really got tired of trying to speak to me and me not answering except with a glare....oh guess I should say that was when I was a older teenager.

YOU Rocked last night Pearl!

Pearl said...

Maybe I need to wear a sign of some sort: the verbal equivalent of Please Do Not Feed The Bears.

:-)

Or maybe I really do need that new mattress as quickly as possible. I got next to no sleep last night. It's awful

;-) Thanks, Dar. It was fun!

@eloh said...

The older I get...the longer that dazed fog lingers...on and on....

Lee said...

I love this post. I am like that with my kids. I don't want them to talk to me and don't call me in the morning. Always a huge mistake!

Douglas said...

See my picture. People simply do not "chat me up". And the ones that do, well... let's just say they have issues to resolve. I am not sure that women can effect this kind of look but I have seen a few who looked able to provide a severe case of frostbite to anyone daring to speak.

mapstew said...

Have you tried the "No eenglees" reply? Or "Nil aon bearla agam"? (Same thing in Irish)

xxx

Jayne Martin said...

I'm so glad I live alone, and am a writer, and get to work at home where personal hygiene is never an issue, because I cannot talk to people in the morning. I can only talk to my dog and my cat and only because they blessedly do not talk back. I am a huge fan of your writing, Ms Pearl.

http://howtobecomeacatladywithoutthecats.blogspot.com said...

Wow! I just realized you have 333 followers... that must mean you're half way to being truly evil! Just kidding! Perhaps if you get 666 tattooed on your forehead, people will leave you alone at the bus stop.

anon said...

What Dar said, I love the mornings too, but we don't have to talk, do we?

My working life was nice, I'd get up at 4 or 5 AM,family still sawing logs, tucked safe in their beds, just me, a coffee and a quick, silent communion with my horse, my dog, the cats, and this really silly little f**cker of a squirrel that used to come hang at the fence rail.

Think I feel a post coming on : D

The Jules said...

Do headphones impinge on morning lovin', or does that depend on what you're listening to?

Ducky said...

Hubs is the same way! I don't talk to him until at least 10:30am. My day starts at 4:30am... thankfully I am a morning person assuming I got enough sleep to function on the night before.

Anonymous said...

No one likes talking in the morning at our house...especially the kids - whom, by the way, are fluent in Frankensteinese.

That said, a couple weeks ago The Dark Child came out of her room when it was time to go to school. She sat on the couch (still in pajamas) and switched on a tiny, portable piano keyboard. I asked her if she was sick. She did not speak...but played the death march. I asked if she needed to stay home from school. She played a carnival song. She then switched off the piano, got up and went back to bed.

What a schmuck.

Nice Job on The E-B show yesterday! Yay for you! =]

darsden said...

excuse me Pearl,

HEY Sweet Cheeks, good talking to you last night while we were visiting Bob and Pearl on the Radio! NOW how can I read your blog missy?

Okay Pearl carry on :-)

Barlinnie said...

I could have written this post myself, but only not quite as well put.

Bravo hen.

Eskimo Bob said...

Pearl -

Excellent reading - you're stories flustered me so much that I didn't realize I had muted my microphone for like 12 minutes afterward.

Go ahead and download it to your iPod - then when someone asks you what you're listening to, you can say "I'm listening to myself. . . see. . . Here! . .. Why don't you want to wear my earphones?! . . I don't have cooties or AIDS or anything like that!! Who are YOU TO JUDGE!! HUH!! HUHHH?!?!?"

Then you'll forever be left alone.

Red said...

Dude, seriously. Even when I get in the office, I don't want anyone to talk to me until, like, 10:30.

Unknown said...

Pearl, My little brother says Accchhhhhkk like "Bill the Cat" from Bloom County when he doesn't want to converse...

I've witnessed it and it is hilarious but the reaction is priceless

I've never tried it myself

Peace~Rene

Irish Gumbo said...

I’m not anti-social so much as I am dazed.

That, my dear, is my life in a nutshell.

I actually snucked when I read that.

justsomethoughts... said...

these buses you speak of...

Joanna Jenkins said...

I totally agree! NO ONE should have to speak at 7:15 in the morning!

xo

Anonymous said...

I like to run long distances (5 to 6 miles) with my headphone radio blasting.

Fragrant Liar said...

I'm quiet in the morning for about ten minutes and then I come alive and (unless I have a migraine or didn't sleep) I become all perky and shit. I don't know what it is. I am just so freakin' happy in the mornings. Is there something wrong with me, Pearl???

Chris said...

Morning people suck. I think you should sit there with your music on and if someone looks at you and their lips move, give them a subtle bird.

Anonymous said...

I love mornings ... it's evening I hate as I just want to sleep...

betty-NZ said...

I can truly relate! I don't do mornings either, but my mom taught me very well to never be rude when someone speaks to you. Such a curse to live with.