It’s funny how I expect people to just tolerate my OCD and love it, and me, but sometimes it’s hard to tolerate from others. In some cases anyway.
Here’s the thing.
There’s a guy that sits behind me at work. Something of a strange duck you could say. Very friendly though, you almost CAN’T make fun of him because he’s so nice. He’s very annoying though. He is always butting into conversations, pretending to understand inside jokes. Kinda like that guy that laughs at the joke after everyone else is finished.
I can tolerate all those things though, and would, if there was just one thing that he would stop: The Mr. Myagi handrub.
For those of you who have never seen the movie, The Karate Kid, Pat Morita plays Mr. Myagi, an older Japanese guru of karate and all around funny quirky guy.
Towards the end of the movie, the bad guys, the Kobra Kahn, and their horrible sensei, do an illegal move on Mr, Myagi’s star pupil, Daniel, (The Karate Kid) and hurt his knee real bad. In the training room, Mr. Myagi is going to work his magic on the knee to bring Daniel back into the final round to beat the Kobra Kahn and win the championship. His move starts with a loud clapping of his hands and then he FURIOUSLY rubs them together real fast, like he’s warming them up.
This guy behind me does this hand clapping/rubbing furiously move about 5,000 times a day. No shit. It is immediately followed by a deep breath and him rubbing his hands on his pants. It’s a wonder he has skin left, I shit you not.
The LAST thing one person afflicted with OCD needs is another OCD afflicted person close by. Because I notice him doing this almost every time, I have to count how many times he does it. So, it kinda goes like this:
Guy :rubbing hands together
Me: *mumbling* one
Guy: rubbing hands together
Me: *mumbling* two
This goes on ALL day. Not only that, but the girls that sit by me know that this seriously drives me mad so they do it too, which throws my count off. Can you see the frustration I’m feeling here?? If i’m on the phone or go away from my desk, that throws my count off too. This means the next time I hear it, I have to start over.
Days he is out are truly happy days for me. My brain, and OCD, get a rest.
Oh Reg, I feel for you. I would totally count his KarateKid move too. I’d have to write it down, make a tally of it.
it really stinks!!
Comment by Red — September 13, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
Oh, that’s a new one. This guy has OCD and you have to count his habits – how ironic. Is the office big? I think I’d have to move desks
I know. I feel really fucked up now
Comment by Bella — September 14, 2007 @ 6:51 am
i’d just shoot him and count the bullets as they leave the gun! kills 2 birds with one stone..you get rid of him AND get to count at the same time
I would love to mum, but it’s that whole “going to prison for murder” thing that keeps holding me back.
Comment by anonymum — September 14, 2007 @ 7:43 am
You could get some score cards (like the Olympics) and grade each and every cycle of hand-rubbing. “Hey Employee X, points off for not rubbing at maximum vigoousness!” or “A Perfect 10 that time! You can be real proud!”
LOL that’s fucking PERFECT!!
Comment by observantbystander — September 14, 2007 @ 12:07 pm
OMGosh! I can SO relate! But I’m LMAO! at your co-workers throwing your count off. That’s just too funny.
Personally, I’m grateful when someone throws my count off. They’ve rescued me from my own madness then. But, I have to tell ya, if the same happened to my 14 yr. old son, he’d get upset about his count being thrown off and he’d have to start all over again.
Yeah. I’ve mellowed a bit over the years. My son, not so much. The boy drives us all nutters and doesn’t understand why. You know, we’re the ones with a problem, not him.
So, anyway, this is my first time here. I found your link on Bella’s blog and thought I’d check it out.
thanks for visiting! I love this blog and it helps that by us sharing our stories we’re helping others feel not so alone.
Comment by ~ Stacy ~ — September 14, 2007 @ 3:53 pm
Because it’s nice to know there are others out there…I’ve tagged you for the 8 things about me meme. Your turn.
sounds good to me, it’ll be on my other blog though.. go to http://www.joebec.wordpress.com
Comment by baldwinsgirl — September 14, 2007 @ 11:55 pm
OMG! I sit next to a guy that does this and I get so annoyed, it turns into seething anger. We’ve thought about leaving gloves on his chair with OCD pamphlets. I feel like I’m going to lose it any day now. Did you ever get rid of the hand-rubber?
Comment by Meesha — October 15, 2008 @ 2:38 pm