Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A blog-worthy event

Okay, let's get this out of the way... I haven't blogged since July 2010. Quitting blogging is much easier than quitting smoking. I have hardly missed it at all. Except for the few occasions when something happens that is maybe too personal for facebook but not quite worthy of a telephone call to my friends and family.

For instance, on Sunday, I had the single most terrifying moment of my life... and I have had a bullet pass through my hair.

It started as most Sundays do, Spencer at work, Madison tending to her farmville crops, me on the couch checking facebook and having coffee, sorting through "to-sort" piles. I came across a ziploc bag of beads and beading accesories, a promotional giveaway from an event I had been to. Since I can't stand to throw anything away, I called to Madison so that I could give it to her. She walked out of the computer room and stood across the room from me, gave me a bizarre look as I held the bag out to her, and disappeared behind the couch. Here is what went through my head in about 20 seconds, I am not sure what came out as words and what stayed in as thoughts.

Really? You can't leave the cat alone for a second so we can have a conversation?
Look at me when I am talking to you.
Stand up.
What the hell.
Why aren't you answering? Answer me.
Madison.
I'm going over there.
Holy shit, her leg is moving, is she having a seizure?
Are you faking this?
Do you think this is funny?
MADISON
MADISON
GET UP
not a seizure.
I'm afraid to touch her, I'm afraid to see her face.
MADISON WAKE UP.
MADISON
GET UP

At exactly the same moment I figured out that she had fainted, she woke up. I think she was scared, too, probably because I was yelling at her at the top of my lungs. It took a second or two to establish that no, she hadn't been making a joke (of course she hadn't, that thought wouldn't cross her mind) and that we should call the doctor.

In the time it took for the doctor to return my call, Google told me that it's not uncommon for adolescents to pass out after rising from laying or sitting. The doctor confirmed that, and said that as long as she didn't hit her head and felt otherwise okay, not to worry. So we aren't worried.

I guess I am surprised at how un-cool I was. I have always thought that I do a good job staying calm and not panicking in urgent situations, but now I question my abilities in that regard. I wonder, if she had been the "child pinned under a car", would I be the mom who lifts the car, or would I have been too scared? Would I have tried to just yell that car off of her?