Phone phobia

Until today I had thought I was alone with this malady, but Ree, the Pioneer Woman, apparently has it worse than I do: PHONE PHOBIA*.

To quote her directly, "I don’t deserve friends. I don’t deserve family. I don’t even deserve acquaintances. And I certainly don’t deserve an answering machine."

Why???.... because I refuse to speak to my loved (or otherwise) ones on the phone.

Well, refuse is a bit strong, I guess. I DO force them to leave messages because I leave my phone on silent most of the time. Messages that I am loathe** to return. Yes, I am often in rehearsals where I can't take calls, but let's face it: the truth is, I can't stand to talk on the phone. I don't know why, but it brings up some primal dread in the pit of my stomach. This is not particularly conducive to a thriving social life, especially in light of the fact that I spend the majority of my time on the road and my closest friends are flung thither and yon across the continent.

So let it be said: please don't judge my love and affection by my lack of willingness to communicate via phone. Let's just view this as another in the long list of charming neuroses that make me the special gal you all know and love, ok? If you'd like to discuss it... please send me an email. :)

* There is even a name for this: Telephobia: a psychological ondition in which one experiences extreme fear or avoidance of using the telephone.
**is this even proper use of the word loathe?