Anx•i•e•ty

n.
pl. anx•i•e•ties
1. a. A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.
b. A cause of anxiety.
2. Psychiatry A state of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a realistic or fantasized threatening event or situation, often impairing physical and psychological functioning.
3. Eager, often agitated desire.

A rash of anxiety has hit my home in recent weeks, kind of like the rash of burglaries that hit Neighboring City a while back but with less loss of personal property and more loss of sleep.

The Teenager is anxious about starting High School. She’s anxious about getting enrolled in Driver’s Ed classes so that she can get her driver’s license by the time she turns sixteen (‘scuse me for a moment, I just threw up in my mouth a little and I need to rinse). She’s nervous about not being able to find her classes and about fitting in with the older crowd and she’s more than a little freaked out about the schoolwork involved in maintaining her status on the Honor Roll.

More than anything, though, she’s been most anxious about whether or not she will make the volleyball team and; discovering that we will be in Florida during team try-outs just about sent her over the edge of Anxiety Hill, where she teetered precariously just inches away from plummeting to her grisly social death.

Happily, we feel we may have averted her swan-dive into social oblivion; last night Hugh spoke with the assistant volleyball coach who assured him that The Teenager has a very good chance of not only making the Freshman team but of being made a Starter. Granted, she still has to call the Head Coach to explain her absence from try-outs, her willingness to participate and her efforts to stay in shape and in practice so far this summer (Gold Cup team and camp at the college in Neighboring City weighing heavily on her side) but; the assistant coach was very encouraging and The Teenager seems much relieved today.

Hopefully, with the volleyball anxiety out of the way, she can start to chip away at the rest of her anxieties and will be less stressed by the time we fly to Orlando as I doubt that Mickey would appreciate a sullen, anxiety-ridden teenager in his Kingdom.

Although, I hear there are some great drugs for that kind of thing, too.

Not for The Teenager, mind you but, for her mother who happens to have a few anxieties of her own, not the very least of which is the fact that we will miss school registration during our trip to Florida as well as volleyball try-outs and, while it is apparently easy to call a coach for permission to miss try-outs, it isn’t so easy to get a hold of an actual human being in the school administration offices during summer break to arrange a similar deal.

I have a plan, however; I’m going to stalk the school superintendent at next weekend’s Sweet Corn Festival and, if need be, I’m going to drag him down to the school then and there to complete whatever paperwork I have to do in order to officially register my children for High School and Middle School.

Damnit, just threw up in my mouth again.

nau•se•a
n.
1. A feeling of sickness in the stomach characterized by an urge to vomit.
2. Strong aversion; disgust.

And, I’m out.