Interesting event
(Some of you have heard me tell this story in person.)
You know that feeling of not paying attention, only you don't notice that you're not paying attention until you start to pay attention, and then you realize you haven't been? Good. File that away for future reference.
It all started two saturdays ago, when Anne's parents came to town, and took us out to dinner. We went to a nice restaurant, and ordered drinks before our meal. I got my usual, a sidecar, which is served in a glass with a sugared rim.
About two-thirds of the way through my meal, I have a sip of my drink. I take some sugar off of the rim as I sip, and a bit of it doesn't dissolve. I think It can't be... and take a small sliver of glass out of my mouth. It wasn't very big, maybe 5mm long and 1mm wide, sitting there on my fingertip. I show everyone at the table, and stick out my tongue, and Anne confirms that it's bleeding a little bit. My drink is only about half gone, and the maitre'd offers to replace it. I waive the offer, as I don't feel like drinking any more alcohol. I can taste the blood in my mouth.
Then Anne's mother tells a story about a child who came in to their hometown doctor's office. Seems there had been a bit of glass in his ice cream cone and when he licked it he got a long cut on his tongue. I'm feeling warm, all of a sudden, and a little woozy. I turn to Anne and say I feel a little weird.
Dark.
Voices.
...he's still breathing...
Oh! I haven't been paying attention! I wonder if they're talking about me? I bet they are. I could have told them I was fine if they'd just asked me. I'll just say something to let them know I'm OK.
...
Or maybe I won't. Hmm. Instead, I'll show them I'm OK. I'll just, uh, lessee... I'll lift my left hand up and put it on the table!
Still dark.
... he doesn't drink very often...
No, that's got nothing to do with it, I just got a little um, woozy... and it's dark. Maybe I'll open my eyes...
I am covered in sweat. Anne is standing next to me holding my head. Her parents are looking at me with concerned looks on their faces.
Um, I'm Ok, just uh, the story and the blood...
The waitress brings me a cup of ice water and a napkin, and I wipe my face and neck. She puts her hand on my shoulder and says I normally don't touch customers, but I really hope you're OK!
I assure everyone that I'm fine, but by then the maitre'd has called the paramedics, and a few minutes later Seattle Fire arrives. They sit me in the entrance to the restaurant and put an oxygen hose under my nose. One of them takes my blood pressure and pulse, another takes off my glasses and looks into my eyes with a small flashlight. He asks How is your vision? I reply What, without my glasses? They deem me well, take the oxygen hose, and let me go.
I return to the table and realize my meal is gone. I'm bummed, because it was good and I wasn't done yet. The maitre'd comps my drink, dinner and dessert.
-----
According to Anne, right after I said I feel a little odd, my eyelids fluttered and closed, I put my hands in my plate, and began to keel over. I wasn't out for long, a minute or two.
You know that feeling of not paying attention, only you don't notice that you're not paying attention until you start to pay attention, and then you realize you haven't been? Good. File that away for future reference.
It all started two saturdays ago, when Anne's parents came to town, and took us out to dinner. We went to a nice restaurant, and ordered drinks before our meal. I got my usual, a sidecar, which is served in a glass with a sugared rim.
About two-thirds of the way through my meal, I have a sip of my drink. I take some sugar off of the rim as I sip, and a bit of it doesn't dissolve. I think It can't be... and take a small sliver of glass out of my mouth. It wasn't very big, maybe 5mm long and 1mm wide, sitting there on my fingertip. I show everyone at the table, and stick out my tongue, and Anne confirms that it's bleeding a little bit. My drink is only about half gone, and the maitre'd offers to replace it. I waive the offer, as I don't feel like drinking any more alcohol. I can taste the blood in my mouth.
Then Anne's mother tells a story about a child who came in to their hometown doctor's office. Seems there had been a bit of glass in his ice cream cone and when he licked it he got a long cut on his tongue. I'm feeling warm, all of a sudden, and a little woozy. I turn to Anne and say I feel a little weird.
Dark.
Voices.
...he's still breathing...
Oh! I haven't been paying attention! I wonder if they're talking about me? I bet they are. I could have told them I was fine if they'd just asked me. I'll just say something to let them know I'm OK.
...
Or maybe I won't. Hmm. Instead, I'll show them I'm OK. I'll just, uh, lessee... I'll lift my left hand up and put it on the table!
Still dark.
... he doesn't drink very often...
No, that's got nothing to do with it, I just got a little um, woozy... and it's dark. Maybe I'll open my eyes...
I am covered in sweat. Anne is standing next to me holding my head. Her parents are looking at me with concerned looks on their faces.
Um, I'm Ok, just uh, the story and the blood...
The waitress brings me a cup of ice water and a napkin, and I wipe my face and neck. She puts her hand on my shoulder and says I normally don't touch customers, but I really hope you're OK!
I assure everyone that I'm fine, but by then the maitre'd has called the paramedics, and a few minutes later Seattle Fire arrives. They sit me in the entrance to the restaurant and put an oxygen hose under my nose. One of them takes my blood pressure and pulse, another takes off my glasses and looks into my eyes with a small flashlight. He asks How is your vision? I reply What, without my glasses? They deem me well, take the oxygen hose, and let me go.
I return to the table and realize my meal is gone. I'm bummed, because it was good and I wasn't done yet. The maitre'd comps my drink, dinner and dessert.
-----
According to Anne, right after I said I feel a little odd, my eyelids fluttered and closed, I put my hands in my plate, and began to keel over. I wasn't out for long, a minute or two.