Coincidental Misfortune

It was coincidental misfortune the time I was pooped on by a bird at the exact moment that I was telling coworkers that I hated birds because I had been pooped on by a pigeon previously.

It was coincidental misfortune the time Greg and I hit a deer while driving home from Minnesota late one night about 30 minutes after asking Greg if he had ever hit an animal while driving (which was no, up until that night!)

"I really don't like bananas," I said to Greg as I was chomping on a banana this morning on our way to the 5K I was running in.

So, after I completed the 5K, bananas were the first food items the volunteers handed out. I grabbed one, and then proceeded to open it and took my first bite, probably because it was so convenient to just open up and eat, rather than dealing with the wrapper from the granola bar, as my hands were full with a cup of Gatorade, a bottle of water, and the banana. I had my finisher photo taken, was on a runner's high, and anxious to find my family in the bustling post-race area. I bit down onto my 2nd bite on banana at which point, I feel a crunch and a sting. I thus spit out banana to find a huge bee on it! And yes, my first thought was an expletive. So, for a split second I think about finding Greg and the kids, but then decide to find medical and get there ASAP because I didn't know how I was going to react, especially in the oral area. I find the medical tent and walk in, which is just strange anyway, because most people after running a race need medical for very obvious external needs like dehydration or bodily injuries. I explained what happened with much embarrassment and close to tears because I was so embarrassed by it. I mean who doesn't look at their food before eating it?!? The paramedics at first didn't know how to treat me. I heard them saying, what do we do for a bee sting? Have you ever treated one before? I got the first questions-Do you feel shortness of breath? Is your airway closing? The answer to both being no. The doctor came over and recommended that I go to the hospital. Because I was stung in my mouth, the fear was that I would swell up and be unable to breathe, and they did not have the means to stop it if that did happen. At the hospital they would. I, of course, wanted to be safe than sorry, but I still wasn't convinced that would be the best thing. I hadn't connected with Greg and I did not swell up immediately. They kept me in the medical tent, with the doctor telling me that swelling could happen well after the fact. And as I was there the underside of my tongue did in fact swell a bit, they gave me Benadryl, and I was able to connect with Greg on one of the paramedic's cell phones. At this point, multiple personnel were encouraging the hospital for observation, so then we were off, in an ambulance to University of Chicago Hospital. Much waiting ensued during which time the swelling in my mouth decreased. I was seen by a doctor 2 hours after my arrival, who then gave the all clear for me to go home, not needing to wait the 3 or 4 more hours for the Benadryl to wear off, but giving me a prescription for Benadryl in case the swelling did go up again. So, what should have been a short run with good family time at home afterward turned into a very long ordeal at a hospital because of eating a food I don't even like, but apparently the bee did.

One of the paramedics/nurse at the medical tent was filling out my paperwork and asked if I saw the bee (and this after I explained what happened). Seriously?!? "Umm," I said, "If I had seen the bee I wouldn't have put the banana in my mouth."