Trial Balloon: January 6, 2009 Archive

So Shy

Posted at 5:29 AM on January 6, 2009 by Dale Connelly (34 Comments)

Our Radio Heartland listener "T" has requested "The Introvert Song" by Peter Mayer today. It's one of the lesser-known Mayer songs but a fun one especially when you recognize someone you know, or yourself, in the lyrics.

"People bug me when they interrupt me with calls and unannounced visits.
And on top of that when they chat about nothing at all and I ask 'What is it?'
I do have a lot to do. Can you return at two? I will not be here by then.
Just leave what you need me for, on a note on my door so I can ignore it, my friend."

They guy in the song seems rude, but maybe he's just shy. Many people are. In fact, the most public people in the world seem to be unanimously, irrevocably shy. Some of the latest famous people to be identified publicly as "shy" are Kristin Wiig of Saturday Night Live, possible New York Senate appointee Caroline Kennedy, and ... imagine this ... public radio guy Ira Glass, who interviews people for a living but admitted he was "too shy" to approach John Waters.

And of course, back in the earliest days of the Prairie Home Morning Show with Garrison Keillor and Jim Ed Poole, GK talked about "Shy Rights".
Yes, even the guy in red socks is shy.

I am too. I suppose you are as well. Perhaps people who thrust themselves into the most public situations are compensating for their shyness, from the wildest gyrating end zone celebrants in the NFL to the helmet haired Governor of Illinois. We are ALL "the shy".

If you'd like to go on about your shyness in this public forum, I, for one, would be happy to stand off to the side and read it.

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