As for OCD, ohhhhh, do I have several … several hundred that is … like Jason, Paul and Lance I also have to arrange my bills facing up and out including unfolding the corners if needed. However, I start with the largest then work to smallest. I have to do this every single time I receive bills and it has gotten so bad that when I receive change before I leave the register they have to be in the correct order. Unfortunately I think I have upset some people standing behind me making them wait, so I have had to learn to move to the side in order to finish arranging.

How about silverware, well, I just can’t have it thrown in the spot they are supposed to be in. Each fork, salad fork, big/small spoon, etc all have to be stacked neatly in their respective place, but if you open the utensil draw it’s a mess and it doesn’t bother me.

Here’s one for the OCD books, when I make sales calls or just talk on the phone for business, business only, I have to have silly putty to play with. I never knew there were so many different colors and types out there. It’s gotten so bad that I have a minimum of six silly putty eggs on hand at all time … I think this is more superstition than an OCD disorder. What’s really funny is the look I get from airport security when they search my bag to see what it is and realize I am carrying a ton of silly putty. I have been carrying it for so long I have even learned how to say it in Spanish, phonetically, Pla-sta-cena.

I have learned to calm down a bit in my older (but still damn young) age, but growing up I definitely had a lot of OCD issues. Common enough were the cracks in the sidewalks. While I always tried to avoid stepping on them, if I DID happen to step on a crack in the sidewalk, say . . with my left foot, I HAD TO REPEAT THE ACT WITH MY RIGHT FOOT! Same thing went for if I banged my arm against a desk, or even braised it, when I didn’t mean to – I HAD TO do the same with my other arm, otherwise, well . . . I don’t really know what would have actually happened, but let’s just say the feeling of impending doom was too much to bear for me NOT to do it. I don’t feel the need to do this stuff to the same extent anymore, but if you were to watch me throughout the day (ethnographic research?), you might notice one of these little quirks taking place, although not to the extent of that guy with the glasses on BOSTON LEGAL!

I do the money thing down like Jason and Paul too, because it just makes sense, and all my coins do have to be face up when I stack them in the car, because why would I want them all upside down? – That just seems wrong. I have a reason for all these little things, as I’m sure Angela, Jason, Paul, and everyone else does, but the issue is that most people simply don’t need to do this stuff, and we are all very likely two phone calls away from being locked up!

Again, great job Jason. And to all others, if you happen to get an invitation to the Miller house, and happen to take a nap in the downstairs den on the couch, and wake up to Angela literally lifting your feet up and vacuuming underneath you, simply smile, say thank you, and ask her for the souffle recipe, which is simply fantastic!

1. All of my shoes are laced left string over right string.
2. I always step through a doorway or onto a staircase left foot first.
3. I always put on my left shoe/sock/pants leg first.
4. (Not related to the left-right thing) I ALWAYS squeeze the toohpaste from the bottom up – never from the middle.

I love to be in control of my life, but cleaning is definitely NOT high on my priority list.

This turned out to be a bit of a learning experience for me; I truly didn’t think I had any OCD behaviors, so asked my family (kids and Sami)…fully expecting them to state reactions they could count on me to have, but not actually citing anything obsessive. Boy, was I wrong. Turns out, I get really pissy if the dishwasher isn’t loaded to my standard, have to have the towels folded a certain way (in thirds, of course…is there another way?), have to have my dishes and other kitchen items positioned a certain way, and am ‘very picky’ about how the house is cleaned. The funny thing, after they thought about it, they ended up agreeing I don’t necessarily have ‘obsessive issues’, but that simply put, I am a control freak. Without fail, I heard “you just always have to be in control”. I’ve always wondered why this, too, has a negative connotation. Who wants to be out of control? Why would I not want to be in control of my own life, surroundings and decisions? I’m even fine with the ‘freak’ label! Evidently, I am not pleasant for hours before I travel and by the time we get on the road (when I’m then relaxed and in a good mood), I’ve put everyone else in a bad mood! Oh, and I always have to have my car detailed before a trip (no matter how long or short the trip, and no matter that after an hour of bug splattering, it’s pretty much reversed the clean appearance), and am grouchy if I don’t get it done. Doesn’t everyone love a nice clean car to travel in, no matter how dirty it comes back?

Anyway, thanks again for sharing. I literally just had the best laugh of my week, as I listened to how those I love and hold dearest view me. Good stuff, Miller.

I too have rituals I enjoy at which others shake their heads. For instance, I start the holiday season the same way every year; Thanksgiving day I watch Scrooged (really, just to hear the ending monologue) as I unpack ornaments, and then I have to listen to “Christmas Wishes” as I decorate the tree. I’ve only foregone this routine twice in like 15 years – whenever I do, I struggle to capture the “holiday spirit”.

This year, I put up the tree, dragged the hundreds of ornaments in their individual boxes into the living room, settled in with Bill on the TV…and realized I was having new floors put in the following week. Can’t decorate a tree if it has to be moved can ya? Uh, duh! So there it sadly sits (still due to my crazy schedule) lit and brilliant, ornamentless, in my living room…while I rushed through this holiday season feeling a bit off-kilter.

I love rituals, and traditions, and I have a few superstitions as well – I believe if my left hand itches I will receive money – if my right itches, I’ll be giving it away. If a friend and I are walking and something comes between us (a pole, or a table or something) we BOTH have to say two things that go together (bread and butter, peanut butter and jelly) or we’ll get in a fight. And I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that if you leave your tree up after the new year, you’ll have a BAD year…so mine comes down on the 26th – in no particular order at all.