Jul 22 2010

The Christina Chronicles: The Worst Memorial Day Weekend, Part 1: The PB&J

[Ed.Note: I mentioned when I started this series that I was going to write some things that would make me look bad, too. This is one of those things. But it’s important, because otherwise I would just be writing a biased “Christina is a horrible friend, pity me!” series of posts. She was, at one time, a loyal friend. Maybe now it will make a little more sense why I kept going back to her, in spite of the stalking and the lies.]

The month of May 2005 was practically a Lifetime movie of the trials and tribulations of a bi-polar asshole. It had it all: suicidal thoughts, attempted OD’ing on anti-psychotics, and worst of all – LIVEJOURNAL DELETION. I know what you’re thinking: How did you ever survive that, Erin?

Well, I had Henry and Christina. They were like a Bi-Polar Damage Control tag team. When Henry couldn’t handle me, he’d turn me over to Christina, who would try to soothe me via telephone. Christina took to buying me CDs and even made me a memory box full of things only she and I would understand, in an attempt to keep me on this earth.

The hot and heavy portion of my relationship with Christina had fizzled out into a ramekin of soggy, ambivalent passion ashes, like a culinary student’s first flambe, but she was still my best friend. At the end of the day, that was her number one role in my life. Best friend.

It got really bad one weekend, like wrist-slitting bad. Henry called Christina himself for that one and asked her to come here. It was a Sunday, but she didn’t hesitate. She somehow bribed her sister to drive for 300 miles and I was a total shit to her when they got here. Christina had stopped somewhere along the way and got me a ring out of a gumball machine. It was a lion,  still inside its round plastic cocoon; I took it from her and chucked it across the room. She spent the rest of the night sitting on the couch, me all curled up like a suicidal cat, crying and punching her. Then crying and hugging her. Then crying and slapping her. She had to leave the next morning so she could make it to work that evening. 600 miles so I could take it all out on her.

Like I said, it was a bad month.

And like I said, she was my best friend.

****

She came back for Memorial Day weekend, arriving here that Friday night on a Greyhound. I was still not feeling right mentally, but she had started to broach all those dreaded relationship questions. She was definitely the female in this dynamic. Me, I’d have been delighted to just let it fizzle. But she was so lovesick. I would literally catch her staring at me with these droopy, sad eyes and her lips would be protruded in such a strong pout that Gary Coleman could have used it as a trampoline. And the heavy, wistful sighs. And the unwanted gestures. And the breathing! God, just fucking stop breathing on me.

I couldn’t have felt more smothered, even if my face was pinned under the ass of Ruben Studdard. (And I don’t even watch American Idol, so figure that one out.)

Saturday afternoon, I was hungry. Actually, I was passed the point of basic human hunger, and had reached the point where I was trapezing from the precipice of homicide. There is a small window in which my hunger can be sated with no causalities, but Henry and Christina were too busy being insensitive to my needs to realize I was about to start busting caps.

For the 79th time, I screamed, “I want a fucking peanut butter and jelly sandwich!”

“We don’t have any bread,” Henry said in the calm tone of Dr. Loomis, after Michael Myers escaped for the fortieth time.

“Well, I want a peanut butter and JELLY SANDWICH!” I roared.

This went back and forth for quite some time and you can imagine how pleasant and thoroughly intellectually stimulating it must have been for all involved parties.

Eventually, I did what I do best and stormed out of the room, being sure to brattily knock things over in my mad wake. I pouted at the computer for a little while.

Meanwhile, golf was on. Yeah, I was missing GOLF because Henry was being a complete prat and wouldn’t go buy BREAD so that his QUEEN could have her fucking  CAKE (peanut butter and jelly sandwich). And then I heard something that shot straight up my spine and bazooka’d my amygdala.

Laughter.

Quiet, sly, SHARED laughter.

“What’s so funny?” I screamed, twisting around in my chair to further inspect the guilty parties. I hated that they were straight up twittering over there. They were supposed to hate each other!

“We were just laughing at what this one golfer is wearing,” Christina started to explain, but I had already stampeded up the stairs and slammed my bedroom door. Unfortunately, I was still hungry so I came back down.

Somehow I wound up with a grilled cheese suctioned to the bottom of a  styrofoam container on account of all the molten cheese tentacles congealing with grease and pure disgust. It was from this sandwich shop that used to be down the street but went out of business on account of all the molten cheese tentacles congealing with grease and pure disgust.

It was so far from what I wanted. You know how can you tell? BECAUSE IT WASN’T A PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH. So I found myself sitting there on the chaise, picking at this grody grilled cheese, when suddenly Henry decided it was cool to make light of the situation and began poking fun at how “difficult Erin can be when she’s hungry!” Oh hardy har har, you mother fucker, let me show you difficult.

I freaked out. Tossed the sandwich. Began windmilling my limbs like I was at a Gravemaker show, while screaming, “Don’t make fun of me! What’s so hard to understand when someone asks for a PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY SANDWICH?”

This went on for awhile and ended with me locked in my bedroom with a bottle of Trazadone.

Actually, when I tell this story to people, I always say, “And then they thought I was trying to like, kill myself or something, but all I was doing was reading a magazine.” Though according to the entry I made that night in my journal, which I just read to make sure my facts were straight for this, I was totally hoping to kill myself. I must have blocked that part out.

All these years, I really thought I was just trying to read Alternative Press.

***

That’s the thing about being bi-polar. The good times are really super good times, and the bad times are slit-your-throat-with-a-frying-pan bad times.  It wasn’t really about the peanut butter and jelly that day. It was a greater frustration, a sad confusion, a muscle-shaking fury which all met in the middle and took on the embodiment of a two slices of bread slathered with Skippy. There’s always a trigger. Sometimes it can be someone’s tone that I’m mishearing, sometimes a shirt I can’t find in my dresser. Today it was a pb&j.

I’m not that bad anymore. As I age, I find new ways to control it. Oh, I still feel it. I still break things and I still lock myself in my room. But mostly I can just walk away now. Mostly. It’s still there, festering in my brain but I’m a mom now. I have a kid. I have to try extra hard to make sure he doesn’t see Hulk Erin. And this is why I don’t have many close friends. It’s embarrassing when this happens, and it has happened in front of an audience before. I keep most people at arm’s length, because no one should be expected to have to deal with this behavior. It’s easier that way.

***

I ignored the knocks at my bedroom door; after awhile, suspiciously, they stopped. I imagined the two of them leaning into my door with Peanuts glasses pressed against their ears, listening for sounds of a razor meeting flesh.

Then I heard Henry’s muffled voice telling me Christina was crying. Like that was going to lure me out. Oh, Christina’s CRYING? Let me suddenly turn off my psychosis and I’ll be right down.

Then I heard Christina sniffling. She said, “I walked to the store and bought bread,” and when she received no response, she added, “And I bought you something.”

Meanwhile, Henry, not to be undone, had fetched his TOOL BOX and was going to take the door apart the door, I suppose. I could hear him out there pissing around in some manner of disassembly and it was really jacking me off.

But Christina had won with the words “I bought you something.” Maybe also because deep down, I couldn’t stand that I had made her cry. I opened the bedroom door before Henry could even figure out which screwdriver to use on the hinge. It was the most passive aggressive competition ever. What happened to the days when Scott Ash and Jay Mulligan fist-fought for my love after gym class in ninth grade? Now all I get is a purple plastic cup with a straw bent to resemble a flower and some pedestrian attempt at breaking down a door? A real man would have shouldered that bitch right off the frame. A real man like JOHN BLACK from Days of Our Lives.

So Christina came in and laid down with me in the bed, trying to suggest all these terrific diversions, like going for a drive and listening to Fall Out Boy. (Please, this was 2005.) I kept telling her shut up but she wouldn’t so I screamed some more and ran downstairs, where I sat on the chaise and tried to just focus on the really exciting golf thingie that was on TV.

And here came Henry, with a goddamn peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Like he was some goddamn hero now.

“No thanks,” I said. Like I wanted that now? That ship has sailed, you bastard. I mean, Christ. Now they’re both so eager to feed me peanut butter? (I realize I could have solved this whole dilemma myself hours earlier, like a big girl, but then I wouldn’t have this super awesome story to share today. And you might not have gotten any other chance to see how fucking retarded I am!)

But he kept pushing the sandwich on me.  “No, I don’t want this anymore,” I said again, clenching my hands. Besides, Christina bought the wrong kind of bread.

Henry then began baby-talking me, like it was OK to start with the jokes ten minutes after they were practically hanging up with the suicide hotline.

Finally, I knocked the plate out of his hand and yelled, “I SAID NO, I DON’T WANT THE FUCKING SANDWICH! WHAT PART OF NO DON’T YOU UNDERSTAND?”

Then I spent more time locked in my room. I suppose you would be upset too, if you nearly got raped by a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

40 comments

40 Comments so far

  1. Jenn July 22nd, 2010 11:56 pm

    I feel so bad that I had disappeared into World of Warcraft around that time. :( I know Christina was your best friend at the time and not like I would have replaced her, but maybe if we both had someone else to talk to… I was having it pretty rough most of 2005 too.

    I freak out when I’m hungry too. I can’t tell you all the times that I was freaking out crying about something and Tim told me I would feel better after I ate. And I would scream at him because this was about something IMPORTANT, it wasn’t just some blood sugar thing that was making me freak out. But then we’d go out to eat and I’d feel better afterwards. :S

  2. Tuna Tar-Tart July 23rd, 2010 12:21 am

    2005 was just awful! I hated that year.

    I’m glad you understand the hunger thing! Henry and Tim sound kind of alike. He’s always on hunger patrol, too. I started to get super twatty at the fair two weeks ago and even Alisha was like, “OK here about a burrito? MMmmm, a burrito sounds tasty, right??”

    By the way, I must have published this accidentally. It was just supposed to be a draft, so excuse all the typos, of which I’m sure there are plenty! I hadn’t even written the part yet about how Henry got his TOOLS and tried to take the door off the hinge, lol.

  3. Alaina July 23rd, 2010 9:47 am

    Wow, this is some powerful stuff. After reading this, I was trying to think of the best thing to say…but, I don’t have anything good to say other than to ask what kind of bread did she buy?

    My older sister is actually diagnosed as bipolar manic depressive, so some of this I can relate to, but more in the perspective of Henry or Christina. Either way, it’s hard all around, isn’t it?

  4. Tuna Tar-Tart July 23rd, 2010 12:12 pm

    I’ve been on your end of it too so I know how it felt for Henry and Christina too, which made me feel like an even bigger asshole. It’s so hard, because most people think it’s like a temper tantrum. Like, “Oh, look, Erin didn’t get her way again.” But that’s not it. It’s deeper than that. And I’m anti-meds so that makes it tough sometimes. I’m stubborn enough to want to fix it myself, which is kind of dumb because I end up making it worse, lol.

    Anyway! This is part of a whole story I’ve been telling about my friendship with Christina and how it ended. If you’re interested in the beginning of it, it’s all right here: http://www.ohhonestlyerin.com/archives/category/the-christina-chronicles (you have to scroll all the way down for the beginning though.)

  5. Misty July 23rd, 2010 9:54 am

    I guess all I really think when I read this is thankfully your still not there in that same place/situation and it is now just a story of the past.

  6. Tuna Tar-Tart July 23rd, 2010 12:14 pm

    I’m still there, just not as bad. You don’t just outgrow bi-polar, but I’ve found ways to control it for the most part. My BAD outbursts are down to about 3-4 times a year now, rather than once a week.

  7. Kelly July 23rd, 2010 10:41 am

    Erin,
    Very entertaining (and true) story. It’s amazing what hunger pains will do to a person, isn’t it? :)

    I second @Alaina’s question: I also want to know what kind of bread she bought.

  8. Tuna Tar-Tart July 23rd, 2010 12:46 pm

    Yes, if only if it was just hunger pains, lol.

    It was generic plain old white bread.

  9. Kelly July 23rd, 2010 6:51 pm

    Well, I’ve been known to get quite grumpy when I’m hungry…. And I don’t have your condition. LOL.

    Plain old white bread, huh? I hate white bread for sandwiches.

  10. Josh July 23rd, 2010 11:56 am

    I can empathize to a degree. About a year ago, when I was a slave to the girrafe ad not to the geriatric, I came home from work and there was a single shoe in the middle of the living room floor.I know what most people would ask, “Where is the other shoe?” that is not what I did. I screamed for the kids to get the fuck out there, at this time four were living in the house. I yelled and screamed and ranted ad raved about the fucking shoe. After, I shit you not, half an hour of this my then youngest daughter (Chrissy) said, “Dad I think thats your shoe.” and it was.

    I locked myself in the ONLY bathroom for two hours after that.

    So I kinda get it, except for the “Fallout Boy” thing.

    :)

  11. Tuna Tar-Tart July 23rd, 2010 12:34 pm

    It’s a bitch.

    The Fall Out Boy thing was an inside between Christina and me. There was nothing really to “get” about that, other than turning to music to calm down. You don’t have any music that helps you? Music is my one saving grace during times like this.

  12. Heather July 23rd, 2010 4:01 pm

    I’m sorry you went through so much. I’ve dealt with depression, losing friends, and all the worse things that follow *hugs*

    Heather
    (visiting from BF and TwitterMoms)

  13. Tuna Tar-Tart July 27th, 2010 1:43 pm

    Thank you for reading this! I’m sorry that you could relate to it:(

  14. Heather July 27th, 2010 1:44 pm

    It’s tough, but my aunt would (morbidly) tell me “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”. Amen!

  15. Marty Vogel July 23rd, 2010 8:42 pm

    Wow, Even thought you went through that, and I’m sure it was horrible, I have to say this blog is extremely well written. You have wit, humor, are brutally honest, and have mad grammar comp skills!!

    I;m now in search of “The Christina Chronicles”

    Thanks for sharing=)(Visiting from bf)

  16. Laura July 23rd, 2010 9:46 pm

    Being bi-polar really does suck. Especially when you know that you are being difficult and having episodes but you can’t stop. And the smallest thing can trigger the freak outs. I just wish sometimes that I could let go like you can. But I am so afraid of showing anger and showing that side of myself, I have huge abandonment issues so I try to keep it in and act fine. Which hurts more in the long time.
    But I do find it getting more calm with age.
    Thanks for sharing this much about yourself. And I am glad you had some support in that crappy year.

  17. Tuna Tar-Tart July 24th, 2010 12:55 pm

    That’s the part that I think is hard for people to understand – why can’t you just stop? But it’s like, once those wheels are in motion, get ready for a crazy ride, baby. It’s embarrassing and frustrating.

    I’m also afraid of showing that side of me. Even just writing this made me feel like an asshole. But this small vignette is part of a bigger picture, and I would feel like a fraud if I left it out.
    “I have huge abandonment issues so I try to keep it in and act fine. Which hurts more in the long time.” — I understand this! There are very few people who have seen me freak. I downplay it for everyone else. Usually suck it all in until I’m alone. And you’re right – it does hurt more in the long run.

    I’m sorry you know what this is all like. :(

  18. Laura July 24th, 2010 9:39 pm

    The understanding part of it has been the hardest. I lost friends over it, mainly because they thought I was doing it for attention. It makes it very hard for me to get close to people
    I would not want to wish this disorder on anyone.

  19. JDaniel4's Mom July 24th, 2010 7:47 am

    Thanks for stopping by. This is such a tough topic to write about. You did a wonderful job.

  20. Tuna Tar-Tart July 24th, 2010 12:49 pm

    Thank you for reading it. It really is a tough topic. There’s no way to not come off looking like a monster. :(

  21. nan July 24th, 2010 11:10 am

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  22. Marty Vogel July 24th, 2010 12:35 pm

    Please pardon my typo’s in my earlier comment. I musta been asleep. LOL

  23. Tuna Tar-Tart July 24th, 2010 12:48 pm

    No worries! Your comment was a real pick-me-up. Thank you for reading it and saying such nice things about my blog. It made me feel good. :)

  24. Andrea July 24th, 2010 1:11 pm

    It’s hard to read about you hurting so much. It breaks my heart.
    But godamn. The fact that you can be so honest in front of the whole world….that’s something to be really proud of.

  25. Tuna Tar-Tart July 27th, 2010 1:45 pm

    I’m sorry:( It’s hard to write too. Mostly because being on the other side of it now, I see how ridiculous and crazy it can be to be around me. That’s the hardest part about writing this stuff – the fact that I don’t come off as very favorable, you know?

    Thank you as always for continuing to read these!

  26. Jewel July 24th, 2010 4:53 pm

    I was concerned to read about this episode, but hopefully, as you say, you are mostly on an even keel now. I admire your honestly and bravery in writing about it, and it was obviously difficult for you. I think mental health issues should be talked about more freely and not hidden away as they often are. Well done.

  27. Tuna Tar-Tart July 25th, 2010 11:22 am

    I remember the first time I tried to talk openly about it. It was 5 years ago and I posted about it on LiveJournal. I got a lot of support, but also backlash. It’s not easy to admit but if even one person reads this and can relate, it’s worth it. Thank you for the supportive comment. :)

  28. alisha July 26th, 2010 12:45 pm

    I always wish i had something incredibly insightful to say about these types of things…but I never really seem to. I’ve seen a bit of Hulk Erin and I know it bothers you..but, I still think you’re pretty fantastic.

    much <3

  29. Tuna Tar-Tart July 27th, 2010 1:46 pm

    Your actions, friendship and support have meant more than having insightful comments on these things, trust me! <3

  30. Ami July 27th, 2010 1:32 pm

    OH MY GOD MY COMMENT ON THAT LJ ENTRY!!!

    And man…it’s like the ghost of ex LJ friends past up in there.

  31. Tuna Tar-Tart July 27th, 2010 1:48 pm

    RIGHT? It’s so weird to go back and read old comments. And to see Regan’s stupid Frida icon on every entry. UGH.

  32. merrymerry July 30th, 2010 2:20 am

    “…to see Regan’s stupid Frida icon….” har har tee hee

    Ami, no joke!

    Erin, this is one of my favorite entries of all time. Thank you. xx

  33. Alyson Hell August 3rd, 2010 12:26 pm

    TOLHURST.

  34. Tuna Tar-Tart August 3rd, 2010 12:30 pm

    Thank you for reading this, Merry! It’s always nice to see your name here. :)

  35. Alyson Hell August 3rd, 2010 12:21 pm

    1. “I would literally catch her staring at me with these droopy, sad eyes and her lips would be protruded in such a strong pout that Gary Coleman could have used it as a trampoline. And the heavy, wistful sighs. And the unwanted gestures. And the breathing! God, just fucking stop breathing on me.”

    That was the most brilliant part of the post. So painful and so well done.

    2. I didn’t realize you were this upset back then, and I sort of wish I did, because I would have reached out. I’m sorry.

    3. I’m behind in blogging catch up again because of vacation. I’ll get there.

  36. Tuna Tar-Tart August 3rd, 2010 12:33 pm

    Thank you Alyson. I remember opening up once on LJ around that time, trying to be very honest about what was going on. A TON of people unfriended me. Because OMG I wasn’t being funny. It made me close up again. It wasn’t as easy for me to reach out back then. So don’t be sorry! I’m much better now, and when I do get low and crazy like that, I talk about it much more openly.

  37. Trolley Enthusiast August 10th, 2010 3:30 pm

    I kind of want to see Hulk Erin, though I have a feeling I’ll regret saying that later. I myself become a collasal ass when hungry, ask Billy. I won’t realize it, I’ll just be acting really douchey and then have a moment of self reflection that pauses me in my tracks like “oh shit, I should eat!” As soon as I do I deflate and come back down to earth. It’s a tiring cycle but someone has to keep that mutton-chopped teddy bear on his toes!

  38. Tuna Tar-Tart August 10th, 2010 4:16 pm

    No, don’t say that, Jessi. I hate being Hulk Erin. It’s so much more than being cranky because I’m hungry. It’s scary, and I’m hurtful and mean, to others and myself. It’s hard to snap out of.

  39. Stormymarie November 14th, 2011 6:08 pm

    Ok…So, I think this counts as an “entry” to your contest Erin.

    However, for the record, as cool as it is to enter your fabulous contest, your friend Alyson’s post about the “Christina Chronicles” prompted me to read all of them! I just spent quite a bit of time at the front desk reading them all. Fascinating!

    Come on baby! Momma needs a sparkly zombie face!

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