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Seann Walsh becomes a temporary recluse after having enough of people
Cabin fever, cabin fever, cabin fever. It’s the kind of state that will make you repeat phrases for no reason. Or make daft noises for no reason. Or laugh hysterically for no reason.
Now, for no reason other than a certain boredom of human interaction, I decided to take a trip away from society. Yes, for the last three days I’ve been on holiday at my house, in the secluded resort of my bedroom where activities include sitting down, watching films and ignoring phone calls. And, most importantly, not talking to people. Or listening to people talk. Or having any contact with people at all.
It’s not necessarily the best holiday I’ve ever taken. Prague was more active, Paris more grand. However, it’s not necessarily the worst. There’s more to do in my bedroom than there was on the Isle of Wight, for instance.
“There’s more to do in my bedroom than there was on the Isle of Wight, for instance”
I must admit, this is quite a juvenile reaction to a typical situation. The reasoning goes like this: “I’m out and around people all the time. I’m a little overwhelmed by being out and around people all the time. Therefore, I will stay indoors, away from people, for the foreseeable future.” Most people would simply have an evening at home, relax a bit and then be ready for the world again.
Well, I’ve gone a little too far. Cabin fever has hit. The only conversation was when I ordered an Indian takeaway over the phone. I wasn’t even particularly hungry. The conversation consisted of me blathering on about how I always order chicken madras, to a man desperate to hang up. Eventually he contrived a conclusion (“Yes, well, anyway…”). The food came. I felt half-ready to ask it how its day had been.
I chose a spoon to eat the food with, and felt compelled to explain the reasons behind this to a nearby fork. Don’t worry: I’m not insane. I didn’t feel sorry for the fork, nor believe it conscious of its rejection. Cabin fever makes you talk to fill the gaps. And if there’s not a person to talk to, you’ll settle for a fork. Still, this is no good. If I stay in any longer, I’ll end up befriending a gravy boat.
So, I’m going out to be around people. I’ll probably have considerably more to say than they do. Maybe I’ll talk enough to drive them to take the holiday I just had.
