Monday, September 29, 2008

Cough, Sputter and Belly Laugh

Two things happened last week that each gave me a moment of pause.

The first happened while I was driving to work. I didn't have to be at school until a little before 12:00 so I stopped at Dairy Queen on the way out of town (I was driving about 20 miles to Blessing) to get lunch because I'm honestly too lazy to make something here at the house. Back to the story. I got my kid's meal -- two chicken strips, a small fries and a diet coke and drove off.

To me this is an easy meal to eat on the road. Who cares if there is a little grease on the steering wheel. Shhhhh don't tell Robert. I had gone just a little ways munching fries and chicken when a song I like came on the radio and I began to sing along. Problem now occurred. As I started to sing, I sucked in air and a small piece of the chicken too. This is not an uncommon experience. I usually go into a coughing fit and every thing is fine. This time was different.

NO AIR --- I couldn't breath. I pulled the car over and turned the flashers on. I was in panic mode. Honestly -- NO AIR! I was trying to remember if I had ever read anything about giving yourself the Heimlich maneuver in all those email I get about what to do when..... Nothing -- but I knew I needed to do something so I gave a haw forcing the air up as best I could. It worked! Praise God it worked! I felt the piece of chicken come up followed by gulping air and coughing. Whew, back to the coughing, chocking thing I'm familiar with. I sat there for several more minutes coughing so hard I was crying, but I was getting air. I recovered quickly and by the time I had driven to work I had all but forgotten the incident.

Now the moment of pause. As I drove off I began to play that *I wonder game*. I wonder how long it would have been before someone would have stopped to see what was wrong, or I wonder how long it would have been before Robert came looking for me, or I wonder what the school would have done when I didn't answer my cell phone. I'm good at the I wonder game.

The other moment of pause came after reading a post by Velvet Verbosity about a challenge to women's magazines to stop airbrushing models on their covers and in articles. To let us see them as they are. All of it in an attempt to help us have better self-images. You can link to her article here for more information and how you can join the effort. All I could do was laugh. Not at the article, but at me.


What brought on that laughing is that the very day I read her blog I had forked over an extra $40.00 to have the church directory picture Robert and I had just had taken enhanced --- yep, wrinkles reduced, skin smoothed, teeth whitened --- everything they could do to make me (and him) look better was to be done. Maybe I'm more influenced by those perfect models than I like to admit.

7 comments:

IdaR said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
IdaR said...

#1...Glad you are ok. It is scarey when something like that happens.

#2...maybe they have more influence over you....

Hootin Anni said...

Oh my gosh Patsy, I was getting scared there...I WOULD have stopped!! I'm sure glad to hear that you got it all dislodged. That's spooky.

Ya, the vanity of all the models is not a good thing, especially to the most influential...the teen girls. I've seen so many with over the border makeup where they actually look like a street walker [I'm sorry] and then there are those that take weight too seriously. But, yep, it 'fessing time, I've had photos touched up too.

Now, I am going to add you to my Thursday Blog, and I'm giving you something...but, don't feel compelled to take it. I'm big on Halloween as you can tell, and I know some aren't...but you're going to be part of my Thursday Halloween Blog...so, stop by for my Thursday 13!

Have a super evening.

Honey Mommy said...

What a scary experience. I have been in my car in the need of help, and it's sad how long it takes sometimes.

I have been playing around with photoshop, so now I am getting rid of my own blemishes. I like to think that I am creating my own idealized version of reality. :o)

Expat No. 3699 said...

Glad you're okay. You had me at the edge of my seat reading that!

I admit, I would pay the $40.00 to have my picture enhanced.

Hootin Anni said...

Hi again....I have a gift for you on my Thursday blog...scroll down to find your name.

Julie said...

Choking is so very scary. I am very glad you are okay.

I usually use the car charger to charge my cell phone whenever I am in the car (my kids have the same phone and the house charger is always not where it is supposed to be. Go figure.)

So I would have the phone right there...I wonder if it would occur to me to call 911, and if 911 could find me, and find me in time. And of course, since I live in Alaska, there are also lots of areas with gaps in the coverage.

Anyway, glad you are okay.