by laura beth

I forgot to mention that while at Forrest's house for a BBQ, something scary happened to me. Everyone was out back on the patio. I was on my way through the house and out the front door to go to the moho. On my way out, I grabbed a chunk of carne asada and threw back a swig of Negra Modelo. But the beer didn't go down. Instead it bubbled back out. I couldn't figure out why. It took a second to realize I couldn't breath, and that the meat was stuck in my throat. I couldn't get it out. I knew I needed to let the others know, and I pictured myself showing the universal sign for choking, and then getting the Heimlich Maneuver. But for some reason I didn't go out there. Instead I went out the front door into the dark away from everyone. I then pictured someone finding me there much later, lying on the sidewalk, unconscious. I have no idea why my feet wouldn't walk in the right direction. I was amazingly calm, though. I tried on my own to get the meat out. Swallowing wasn't working at all, so I kept trying to cough it out, and I eventually I succeeded, no one the wiser, until I joined the others and Kenny saw me with tears in my eyes (first from the strain, and then later from the trauma). I'm off meat for now. Chew your food well, folks. Chew your food well.