Momentary Lapse of Claustrophobia
I have never been claustrophobic, as far as I can tell. I have had two closed MRI’s in my life and they didn’t freak me out in the slightest. As a kid, we used to play hide and seek and hiding in tight places never bothered me. But this weekend, in the van shuttle that was taking wedding guests from the reception back to the hotel, I almost lost my mind in a moment of claustrophobic tension, which almost sent me reeling.
Jen and I were at the reception and made our way out front to the van which was headed back to the hotel. As some of the first people to arrive at the van, we eventually got in and made our way to the back of the five rows that sat about four people across.
Slowly but surely, other guests started arriving at the van looking for a shuttle back to the hotel.
Slowly but surely, the van started to crowd in as people started contemplating sitting people on laps in order to get more people back to the hotel.
Slowly but surely, it got hotter and mustier in the back of the van. The smell of sweat, alcohol and used automobile filled my nose.
Then, finally the doors shut and any slight drafts of fresh air that were coming in through the open door, were gone. I am starting to feel feverish.
I mention that I need a window or some AC. My friend Jon reaches to open the window, but instead grabs a little plastic cover which protects the end or a seat-belt, and breaks it. There is still no air, but now the laughter of the guests over the seat belt cover is deafening.
I mention a little more desperately that we need a window open or some AC.
The driver slowly walks around the back of the van with his cane. Earth worms have traversed flooded driveways faster than this guy got to the driver’s door.
He starts the van and through all the commotion of about twenty people talking and laughing misunderstands and thinks that the van wants heat.
I become just a little more desperate and Jen can tell that I am inches away from losing my mind.
Finally, with seconds to spare in my fight against whatever it was that took over, the air kicked on and rushed through the back of the van like a tidal wave of water over an inferno.
And I was fine.
I don’t know what came over me that night. Like I said, I have never been claustrophobic as far as I know. Having that little window into the world of someone with claustrophobia, I know that I hope that feeling never comes over me ever again.
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