telephone

In this cartoon, a bird seems anxious as the phone rings.
Nothing more happens, that's it.

I thought it was a humorous illustration of how it is for those of us strange birds who avoid the phone, for whatever reason. At least the bird pictured here is only listening to it ring, and not destroying it, as I have done a few times in real life...

*sigh*

I made all these Birdtown videos in 2010, while still trying to get it together mentally once more (it's all relative - yes I admit I was a Space Cadet all along) after a brain infection took what little I had in the world and leveled me to a pathetic pulp. Each video represents something I was thinking, feeling, or going through, on my slow journey back into the land of the living. This one in particular, "Telephone", expresses my growing detatchment from social interaction.

The brain infection took place at the end of 2006, it robbed me of everything. I recovered as a dependent at my mom's place, and by the Spring of 2007, I was fed up with seizure meds and staring into blank dark space all day (although this time of rest was needed). I was encouraged to get online, and enjoy some interaction with the world, so I got on MySpace for the very first time.

Imagine walking into a high school class reunion after not seeing or talking to anyone for about 20 years, in a mental daze. That's what happened to me. When I first joined MySpace, I was still disoriented and out to lunch mentally, and on top of that, I had no idea how to socialize online. It was all new to me and although fun, I cringe at the thought of my attempts at conversation with my former classmates. I was awkward. And looking back, I don't know if I even told anyone about my mental/physical state, it was too embarrassing. I just tried to cover it up and be cool, but it didn't work. 

The thing is, I was ALREADY the oddball, so throw a brain infection into the mix, and there you have it, Amy's crazy, for sure.

So, about this video. I never even knew what the term "social anxiety" even meant until going through the time period I just described. But MySpace led to numbers exchanged and that led to even more awkwardness on my part, it's all so bad, it pains me to even think about it. It got to where, upon hearing the phone ring, not only would it simply go unanswered, but thrown away. (sometimes.)

I never fully recovered.


Here's lots more Birdtown Videos in this collection, and a fun little blog that features more socially awkward birds interacting awkwardly with one another and the world.

*sigh*