Drama Queen Scared Straight

"I wish I was dead!" I proclaimed to my mother one stormy day, after I had been jilted by What's-His-Name. As the tears fell from my eyes like water from a leaky faucet, one could almost hear the violins playing to the beat of my tattered heart.

"I feel your pain," my empathetic mother said, handing me a piece of peppermint candy as we sat side-by-side on my living room sofa. "You're hurting so bad that it breaks my heart."

"I'm so tired of always going through changes," I cried between sniffles.

I unwrapped the peppermint candy and popped it in my mouth. Mom handed me a Kleenex. I blew.

"I just don't want to be here anymore," I sobbed.

As I prepared to utter my next drama-filled statement, my monologue was suddenly cut short. My throat seemed to suck in the peppermint like a vacuum, catching me completely off guard.

Mom looked at me with compassion in her eyes, convinced that I was too choked up to continue talking.

She was right.

I struggled to force the peppermint down my throat, but it would not cooperate. Instead, it remained lodged there and I suddenly found myself gasping for air.

Realizing that I was really choking on the piece of candy she had just given me, Mom began to use the heel of her hand to try to force the candy out of my windpipe by hitting me on the back.

By this time I was doubled over and completely consumed with fear. When Mom's initial efforts didn't work, she resorted to a more extreme tactic.

"I'm not going to lose you like this!" she declared. A retired nurse, Mom knew just what to do. She got behind me and began to use the Heimlich Maneuver, wrapping her arms around my abdomen and firmly thrusting several times.

As both of our hearts raced, I wanted at that very moment to retract my earlier statement about dying and tell God: "Just joking!"

Fortunately, not only does God have a sense of humor, but He is also quite forgiving. Mom's determination to save my life finally paid off as the piece of candy flew out of my mouth and fell onto the carpet.

We both cried, overwhelmed by the whole experience.

I had been blessed with a second chance at life.

A life that certainly wasn't worth losing over What's-His-Name...