Mary and I are in the process of a quick move. Technically, tomorrow (Tuesday, September 30) is our absolute last day in this apartment.
We were taking a break from packing and had settled into some nice comfortable spots. I was on the couch, reading a Dilbert collection book and Mary was on the computer in the office.
I remember getting to a section in the book and was reading the comics. There was a particularly funny set of frames that set me off on a good, hearty laugh. That laugh triggered a slight cough. Which, in turn, triggered a deeper cough, ad infinitum.
The last thing I remember was the third cough which was pointedly difficult. The next thing I remember is waking from a dream. In my dream, I was sitting in a chair, arms akimbo, bouncing my leg. The next thing I saw is what brought on the realization that something was terribly wrong.
Mary was standing over me, with a horrible expression of fear and dread overpowering her demeanor. "Are you okay?"
The first thought I had, since I had felt my leg shaking, was, 'God! I've just had a seizure!' Though, my first words were, 'I'm okay. What happened?'
I stood and she wrapped her arms around me SO tightly. And she sobbed. 'I thought you were dead,' she said through labored breath.
Apparently, the coughing eventually stopped my breathing. And I passed out. Completely, out cold.
Mary later told me that she had heard me laugh, cough, then silence. Followed by the book hitting the floor. She called my name and got no response, so she came to check on me.
Think deeply of your loved one and picture them in the condition I am about to describe.
She came around into the living room and found me sitting on the couch, leaned back, hands clutched to my chest, face red, eyes open... not breathing. She rushed over and began shaking my leg and calling my name.
Thankfully, I awoke. I do not know if I would have woken up if she had not been there. Though, the human spirit wants to tell me, 'You were dreaming. You would have passed into sleep mode and awoken some time later.' I'm not so sure I believe it.
Be it God, Buddah, Allah, Gaia, [insert deity of choice], or nothing at all, keep me in your thoughts and prayers. I'll be seeing my doctor in the next couple of days to make sure I did not have a seizure or mild stroke. I'll keep you posted.
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