Friday, December 29, 2006

I Talk Too Loud

I talk too loud, and I know it. Believe me, I'm not proud of it. I think it's because I spend so much time alone, I have a hard time modulating my voice around other people. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a SHOUTER, but I don't have a really soft voice either. And people with really soft voices drive me crazy. My brother Alan, whom I love dearly, is a very quiet talker. A typical phome conversation goes something like this:

Me: So, Alan, how have you been?

Alan: mumble mumble mumble

Me: Excuse me?

Alan: mumble mumble mumble

Me: I'm sorry, Alan, what was that?

Alan: mumble mumble

At which point my ears are about to break from the strain of trying to hear what he is saying. A couple of years ago, I had a phone conversation with Alan in which at some point I missed the news that he had HAD TO HAVE A PACEMAKER INSTALLED, because he had been talking so quietly for so long that by that time I had resorted to the old, "Uh huh", "Oh really", etc., because I could no longer discern any of the words that he was saying at all.

So I'm sorry, Alan, that I missed your pacemaker news. I'm sure that there is a lot of things you have told me that I have missed, because I CAN'T HEAR YOU. Sorry. So, so sorry.

P.S. - Yes, I have had my hearing tested and it is fine. I also had a manager at Wendy's at one point who talked so softly that none of the employees could hear him, and we all just mostly tried to steer clear of him, because it was so damn hard to hear what he was saying.

3 comments:

Exador said...

I've found that my dB level is directly proportional to my blood alcohol content.

Anonymous said...

This has been weighing on my mind for so long....I too talk too loud! I work with several doctors & nurses and the atmosphere is "quiet". They openingly make fun of me because they know that I have expressed that I know I have the problem. It's not only that I am LOUD, but that my voice has a tone that carries throughout the building. I have tried for years to control and try to be in control, but to this day; nothing helps. It really sad-dings me most times to where I come home in tears. (Had hearing test.....NORMAL!) One girl told the other girl today that I was going to be the Bingo called & her remark was "that I had the mouth for it". Made me feel awful! So, here I go again, being ashamed of who I am!

rockygrace said...

I'd rather talk too loud than too softly. At least I know that people hear what I'm sayin'!