Somebody Heimlich Me!

If you have read the Shamu story, you know about "Calvin" choking on a sandwich. Unfortunately, that is not our only choking story.  About seven or eight years ago, my brother and his family were here.  We were all watching a movie on television.  I am certain that I was irritated with someone.  You see, at that point, all of the kids still lived at home and as a group they were diabolical about getting on my nerves.  When you add my brother's boys to the mix, look out!

Let me set the stage. The room was dark and I am sure popcorn and drinks were involved.  Some of us were on the large L-shaped couch and others were laying on the floor with pillows.  I can't remember what the movie was, not that it makes a difference, but we were all pretty into it.  "Pook" was sitting next to me on the couch, probably as a punishment.  Out of the blue, he grabbed his throat and was clearly choking!  My first reaction was to dislodge whatever it was, so I pounded him hard on his back several times.

Now, you would think that the commotion would get everyone up and helping. Not in this family.  My brother and sister in law didn't move.  They heard the thuds as I hit "Pook" and didn't even turn around.  They decided that whatever he had said or done, I was going to kill him and they did not want to have to testify against me!  Finally the commotion and gasping disturbed the movie enough that someone turned the lights on.  I remember yelling that he was choking.  Suddenly "Pook" stood up and yelled "Somebody Heimlich me!" 

Silence filled the room.  I looked at him with total irritation and said, "If you can say that, you don't need to be Heimliched."  Then the questions started about what he was choking on.  He said he swallowed a pen cap.  Now, I am thinking the pen cap to the Bic Pen that he was holding.  I panic. My mind immediately races to it being lodged in his GI tract and surgery.  Can they scan plastic?  Oh wait, not that end of the pen!  He swallowed the little nub at the end of the pen.  REALLY?!!!  That was what all the choking was about?!  We informed him that it would pass and of course he wanted to know if he should watch for it and let us know when it did.  Gee pal, no thanks!

LOL!