There's no doubting that I'm a grumpy old sod: many things irritate me, I guess they always have. But since I became a Narcoleptic my nervous system has been shot. I can no longer just "choke it down" or put up with bullshit anymore like normal people.
The illness has made me very aware that there is a lot of stuff we just push to the side or buffer. Things such as:
- Loud iPod users on the Tube
- fekwit drivers
- karaoke 'til 3:30am next door
- people who throw out perfectly good furniture into the wrong section at the tip
- politicians spouting crap on TV (or avoiding the question)
- extended conversations on mobiles on the Tube (keep it to yourself, we're not interested)
- the general background noise of living in a big city
- reality TV in all its heinous and mind-sapping forms
I could be here all day making lists, but I'm sure that there some in there that bug you as well. It's alright for you though, you can shrug your shoulders and file it away. Not me. Anything involving emotion has a direct pipeline to my nervous system, and there's nothing I can do about it. There are days when I can shrug it off, but all I need is a bad night's sleep and it all goes out the window; heaven forbid I should have my daily naps interrupted.
So yes, I am a grumpy fekker, but my condition certainly doesn't make it any easier.
I hope this helps people understand me a bit better.
