The Heat Got to me Today
Up until recently, I'd been walking to work and home everyday, which is great exercise and let's me save a fortune on gas.
For various reasons, I've had to stop that for a while, which has been bothering me lately. So, this morning I decided to go back to walking.
First, I couldn't find my shorts. I didn't think this would be that much of a problem. After all, I knew it was going to be hot, but I've done this kind of walk before (five miles each way, by the way), so I figured I'd be okay in my jeans.
Then, when I was about a mile from home, I realized forgot to bring my cell phone with me. This is never a good thing to do when walking alone at four in the morning. Ah, well, no big deal.
So I got to work in time, which was fine. I was hot, tired and sweaty, but my office has a shower, so I cleaned up and went to work.
Of course, the thing I didn't take into account was the fact that it is much cooler in the morning (especially before dawn. Come time to go home, it was 103 degrees (110 with the heat index) and I was wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans.
Allow me, at this point to explain that as stupid as I was, I was actually terribly lucky.
I got about half-way home and knew I wasn't going to make it by foot. There was a bus stop about a block and a half from where I made that decision, so I decided to get there and take the bus as close to my home as possible.
Unfortunately, I didn't make it that block and a half. I'm not really sure how many more steps I got, but the next thing I knew, there was a police officer crouched over me with a bottle of iced water. I had passed out (fortunately falling to the side of the road into a dirt shoulder) and he had been at the nearest corner. He saw me go down and was able to get to me quickly with the water. He was also nice enough to make sure I was okay and I didn't want to get to the hospital or anything, then gave me a ride home.
Needless to say, I was lucky. The route that I walk is very busy, traffic wise. Beyond the fact that there was someone right there who was able to get me the water as quickly as he did, if I had fallen in the opposite direction, I'd be dead right now.
So, for once, I was quite happy to wake up and see a cop standing over me.
And I'm not going to try that again until this fucking heat breaks.
For various reasons, I've had to stop that for a while, which has been bothering me lately. So, this morning I decided to go back to walking.
First, I couldn't find my shorts. I didn't think this would be that much of a problem. After all, I knew it was going to be hot, but I've done this kind of walk before (five miles each way, by the way), so I figured I'd be okay in my jeans.
Then, when I was about a mile from home, I realized forgot to bring my cell phone with me. This is never a good thing to do when walking alone at four in the morning. Ah, well, no big deal.
So I got to work in time, which was fine. I was hot, tired and sweaty, but my office has a shower, so I cleaned up and went to work.
Of course, the thing I didn't take into account was the fact that it is much cooler in the morning (especially before dawn. Come time to go home, it was 103 degrees (110 with the heat index) and I was wearing a black t-shirt and black jeans.
Allow me, at this point to explain that as stupid as I was, I was actually terribly lucky.
I got about half-way home and knew I wasn't going to make it by foot. There was a bus stop about a block and a half from where I made that decision, so I decided to get there and take the bus as close to my home as possible.
Unfortunately, I didn't make it that block and a half. I'm not really sure how many more steps I got, but the next thing I knew, there was a police officer crouched over me with a bottle of iced water. I had passed out (fortunately falling to the side of the road into a dirt shoulder) and he had been at the nearest corner. He saw me go down and was able to get to me quickly with the water. He was also nice enough to make sure I was okay and I didn't want to get to the hospital or anything, then gave me a ride home.
Needless to say, I was lucky. The route that I walk is very busy, traffic wise. Beyond the fact that there was someone right there who was able to get me the water as quickly as he did, if I had fallen in the opposite direction, I'd be dead right now.
So, for once, I was quite happy to wake up and see a cop standing over me.
And I'm not going to try that again until this fucking heat breaks.
5 Comments:
OK, now I feel like a real asshole.
Glad you're OK. Make sure to drink a sports drink and lot's of water overnight.
I'll hold off on any further lecturing beyond saying that if you ever do anything like that again and die because of it I promise that I will haunt you in the after life as a NeoConservatve Christian Fundamentalist complete with layered tweed and an eBible.
I'm not kidding.
Because it bears repeating, I am extremely glad that you're okay. Keep yourself hydrated tonight.
Brian, No need to feel bad. It was my own stupidity that led me to what happened yesterday.
And I've been going through water like we're running out, so I'll be fine.
Wow, finally a cop around when you needed one! Glad you are OK! And STAY OUTTA THE FRIGGIN SUN!
"So, for once, I was quite happy to wake up and see a cop standing over me."
Which answers the proverbial question: Where's a cop when you need one?
All day I face the barren waste without the taste of water,
Cool water.
Old Dan and I with throats burned dry and souls that cry for water,
Cool water.
The night are cool and I'm a fool each stars a pool of water,
Cool water.
But with the dawn I'll wake and yawn and carry on to water,
Cool water.
(chorus)
Keep a movin' Dan, don't you listen to him Dan, he's a devil not a man
and he spreads the burnin' sand with water.
Dan can't you see that big green tree where the waters runnin' free
and it's waiting there for me and you.
Water, cool water.
The shadows sway and seem to say tonight we pray for water,
Cool water.
And way up there He'll hear our prayer and show us where there's water,
Cool Water.
Dan's feet are sore he's yearning for just one thing more than water,
Cool water.
Like me, I guess, he'd like to rest where there's no quest for water,
Cool water.
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