“Hello, friend, it’s me, CRAZY! Yeah, CRAZY! So good to hear your voice.”

[Eliza Hodgkins 1812]

Originally Posted by Prudence

I have to amend my earlier post to add that I talk to all sorts of animate and inanimate objects. The cats, the toaster, the computer, the microwave, the sink that won't drain, the computer, the VCR, the cordless handset I can't find, the computer, the cans in the cupboard, my closet, the computer....

I do that, too. But I'm also the crazy who talks to her food. "Ooh, apple, you look so good to me. I can't wait to eat you!"

Bad.

My mother, a few years ago, caught me on the couch having an imaginary conversation with a boy I was interested in. I even had my arm on the couch, as if reaching behind him. And I was turned toward an invisible someone. And I was talking aloud.

In my defense, I really thought I was just imagining a conversation in my head. I had no idea I was acting it out.

Actually, that's not much of a defense, is it? Sounds like, since I didn't know I was doing it, I'm even *more* crazy.

I saw my mother. Registered surprise and embarrassment. And she just smiled, shook her head, said, "Just like your father," and then asked me who I was talking to.

"Jonathan Livingston. A boy at school. We've been writing. I'm nervous about our first conversation after we're both at school again, so I was, uh, practicing."

"Practicing?"

"Yes."

"You know that's crazy, right? That you didn't even realize you were doing it?"

"Yes."

"Okay." And then she kindly walked away.

[Prudence]

Originally Posted by Eliza Hodgkins 1812

In my defense, I really thought I was just imagining a conversation in my head. I had no idea I was acting it out.

My husband does this ALL THE FREAKIN' TIME. Usually he confines himself to making horrifying facial expressions. We'll be walking along in silence and I'll glance over and his face is all contorting this way and that and I'm, like, what the hell? And he says sorry, he was thinking of something.

Sometimes, though, he forgets that it's imaginary and actually starts talking. I'll hear him mumbling and say what? What are you saying? And he'll look at me blankly and say he never said anything. Because as far as he knows, he never said anything.

At least your outloud conversations seem harmless. His tend to involve the word motherfvcker a lot.