We all have fears. Most of us have at least one irrational one.

I don't like to sleep naked if I'm alone. I'm afraid the house will catch on fire and I won't have time to get dressed before I have to run out into the yard.

I don't know how having someone with me improves my chances of the house not burning down, or of my nudity not being observed by the neighbors... Maybe it's just more worth the risk.

What are you afraid of?

-- Jackie (jackie@mail.jackie.nu), June 14, 2000

Answers

I am scared of spiders. But I'm afraid of my children being hurt. Or my grandchilden being kidnapped. Or of my father finding out where I live. Or of my father finding out where my mother lives.

I'm scared of speaking in front of large crowds. But I'm afraid that when I lay dying, I will be wishing that I had accomplsihed more, or I will regret not hugging my kids enough, or telling my husband that I loved him enough times...at that moment, I don't want to regret a thing. I want to be proud of myself, and have a feeling that I accomplished all - or more - than what I set out to do with my life.

I'm sure this response is a little freaky......but it's honest.

-- Planet Earth (imagine@industrial-ideas.com), June 14, 2000.

Bees.. scared to death of them. I will go out of my way to avoid one, I will drop everything - even if it's important - just to get out of a room that has a bee in it.

-- Arthur (art_m@telusplanet.net), June 14, 2000.

I have this weird and unreasoned fear of people on bikes. I will climb up the side of a building if I have to, to get away from swerving, oncoming children on bikes. I can't remember that I've ever been hit, bumped or scratched, ever, by a person on a bike - even in Manhattan, where bike messengers are a Deadly Weapon, Health Threat, and Menace to Society.

Like a nine hundred year old woman, I'm afraid of being knocked down and then ridden over. I'm afraid of the chain catching my ankle and ripping all the skin from my entire leg off in one big sheet. Sure, claim that I'm totally irrational. But doesn't it look like it would hurt to get mowed down?

-- Jen (maharishe@yahoo.com), June 14, 2000.