by Dianne_in_Denver
"Nana, now don't freak out (in a crying dramatic voice) but mom and dad are taking me to a doctor in Mexico because something awful happened to me in the ocean."
A month ago my daughter and family went on a vacation to Cabo and this was a message I received on my cell phone one afternoon. I will be the first to admit that I "freaked out" when I heard this sobbing scared voice of my 11 year old granddaughter. I will also admit (only to you owls) that my imagination went wild. How serious it must be for my daughter to be out combing the streets of Mexico looking for a doctor; I knew she was alive but did a shark bite her; she wasn't even crazy about the ocean..what could have happened?
Needless to say, I instantly called and thank goodness she answered and was still whimpering. In my best freak out voice I asked her what happened. She said to me, "Nana, I told you not to freak out." As the conversation continued, she told me the doctor was at the resort they were staying at (one worry gone-kind of) and that a jelly fish had stung her arm. She had stripes going into her hand and it was hurting really bad. I was relieved to know that it wasn't a shark and that her body parts were still attached and that the doctor had already ordered two prescriptions for her. She said that in that message she had ended it with the part about the jelly fish. I still don't think she did, but regardless, this Nana didn't hear it. My daughter said that when the ambulance/cart was taking them to the doctor, my granddaughter was looking for the phone and my daughter asked her what the heck she wanted the phone for right at that moment. My granddaughter said, "to call Nana." This is my first grandchild and she knows my sympathy is always on her side with mom and dad, sister, and yes...even the ocean. Oh, one more thing....she is NEVER going into the ocean again!
My five grandchildren are the heart of me and to think something had happened made my heart stop until I was able to return this phone call.
Have any of you ever received a voice message, email, note, whatever, that "freaked you out" before you knew the whole story? I would love to hear any stories or even comments.
77 comments:
not my blog, shirley!!!!~
Good morning Tina!
Ho!
Oh Di~ When I was about 8 or 9 yrs old, I answered the phone and this man told me that my dad had cut his arm off! He was in construction and I just pictured him sawing it off! I ran to my mother in hysterics and got her all worked up. About an hour later in walks my dad. He was so mad.....he had knicked his arm with the saw......hardly a scratch really, but I remember how relieved I was that he was okay~ I'm glad ur GD was okay, too~
God Morning, Shirley....I'm off to work now~
Morning glories!
Uh Oh Tina slipped into first past Shirley!
Dianne I don't even need a phone call to send me into semi freak out mode. Used to be when the kids were out and about all I had to hear was a siren and my worry meter would go crazy.
I have had those stomach dropping conversations but to truly freak out haven't had that yet. I pray I don't ever have to go through that on the phone. Just reading yours gave me enough anxiety!
Dianne I'm glad everything worked out well. It is nice to know she wanted to call her Nana.
I love hearing kids tell a story cause they can be soooo dramatic. I have never had a phone call like that (that I can remember anyway). I think we would all freak out a little.
Morning Lynn!
Good morning Tina, Shirley, Diane and LynnD. Freak out phone calls... I make a lot of those, but I always start them with, "Everything's fine, everyone's okay". It's kind of a lie unless you consider alive "fine". I never want to start a call with, "I have some bad news".
Diane, I'm glad your granddaughter is okay. Jellyfish stings hurt a lot. What kind of jellyfish was it, and why did she need medical attention, if you don't mind my asking?
Good Morning Hooters!
Congrats on 1st tina~
Dianne- oh yes, I've had that call.
A couple of them.
Anytime someone tells you not to freak out, you freak out. Like when my brother called to tell me my future SIL had broken her nose and had to black eyes-2 weeks before my wedding and she was in it.
Or the time my then 17 year old just left the house 15 minutes ago and then the phone rings. "This is the Madison Police Dept. Your son has been in a car accident". 'HE IS FINE- but what hospital do you want the ambulance to take him too?" WTF??????? If he is fine why does he need an ambulance? Well, he is bleeding and does have a cut near his eye, and is a bit wobbly, so he needs to go".
Gee, I don't know, about the NEAREST one!!!
And one that wasn't a phone call-which was worse. My youngest was going to college in London when the bombings took place a few years back. We were in a hotel and woke up to the news showing the station he used to get to school had been bombed. I was frantic and grabbed my cell to call him.
Of course all was well, he was taking a nap! Then he proceeds to tell me that he didn't have an early class that day-otherwise it was at the exact time he would of been standing at the station. Information I did not need!!
Ok, thats enough for now. Good Morning shirley!!
Hi Bona!! you came in while I was typing.
Dianne- I also meant to tell you I know exactly how you felt. I think my heart would stop if anything bad happened to my 2 grandchildren!
Morning Goldie and Bonachichi.
Goldie! What happened to that nice firm figure you had? And the beautiful hair and skin? Not to be picking at you, but you're looking kind of ragged these days.
G' Morning ladies...
I have always heard that urine takes the burn out of a jellyfish sting...
How frightening that must have been Dianne.....I always think of sharks first.
Once a friends daughter called me to say that her Mother...who was hospitalized....was in bad shape and was calling for me. Of course I thought this may be her time to go...her swan song...perhaps the fat lady was going to sing... When I walked in the room she looked at me and said..."what are you doing here?"
I said "your daughter said you were calling for me...I'm here now honey"
"Well my God...I wasn't hollering Dee I was hollering pee!! I had to PEE....thought I would POP!!!"
"Well as long as you're here make yourself useful...(as she pops her teeth out) take these in the bathroom and wash em off...I puked earlier..."
One of the worse was when a neighbor called about 10 one night to tell me that they could see 2 men in my yard and they were sneaking around looking in the windows....omg...I don't think I have ever moved so fast...I put on some Indian music...dove into my belly dancing outfit and threw open all the drapes and began a seductive dance......the last I saw of those fellas....they had jumped the back fence and were running across the golf course......
I pride myself with my ability to reach alternative ways of dealing with situations....
Diane - or anyone else... Is there any good way to hear bad news? I mean, how would you want to be told someone you care about is hurt or in trouble?
Good Morning!
DIANNE: Mr Z once made this same kind of phonecall to me. He started with "I'm on my way home..there's something I have to tell you when I get there.".."What is it?" I asked. "I want to tell you in person.".."No..tell me now..".."I'll be home in a half hour..I'll tell you then..I don't want to talk about it on this phone..".."Don't you dare hang up without telling me!" You have to understand this was before we had cell phones..so he was calling from the breakroom phone. The more he hemmed and hawed..the more nervous I'd get. "Did you get hurt?" No. "Lose your job?" No. "Did someone smash into the car?" No. "Well then what the heck happened?".."I'll tell you when I get home, ok?" I'm an easy freaker-outer..believe me..it doesn't take much to make my imagination run wild. I was pacing by the time he got here. He got out of the car with the biggest smile on his face..and handed me his bonus check! He'd wanted to surprise me..I coulda smacked him anyway!
I'm glad that your granddaughter was ok DIANNE..I know how very much you love all your grandkids..and can just imagine how scared you were when you got this call.
Great blog today..thank you!
TINA: Congrats on 1~ :D
I had the exact opposite happen to me. Mr Z's supervisor called and told me
"There's been a little accident..don't worry..he's ok..but we took him to the hospital to get checked out.." About five minutes later..Mr Z called me on his boss's cell phone..yes there had been a accident..he'd been hit by a forklift..but don't worry..he only lost half a toe..WHAT!!??
SHIRLEY: I love your new avatar! I had to turn on my heater just looking at it! ;)
BONACHI: I don't think there is an easy way to tell anyone bad news..I just know I'd rather know as soon as possible..so if that means telling me over the phone..than so be it..
LYNN: I know semi freak out mode well..full freak out mode too..
GOLDIE: Whenever I hear that anyone in my family was near an accident..that it could have been them 'if they'd only been five minutes earlier or later..' my heart skips a beat..it's scary isn't it?
DEEDEE: Your alternative solutions crack me up..and now all I can imagine is you belly dancing..LOL..
Ooops..I just read my comment again..and 'a' should be 'an'..and it's 'then' not 'than'...
..c'mon..sing it with me..LOL.. ;)
Happy Cyber Monday Owls.
Dianne-writing-a-blog-on-her-own-Denver, I can imagine how freaked out you were. I was in a high power meeting with some people from the Governor's office when my secretary came into the room to tell me I had a phone call from my son, who was in college in San Diego. I knew she wouldn't come and get me if it wasn't an emergency. I didn't even make an excuse for leaving, I just bolted out of the room to my office where Todd was on the phone. He had been in an accident and he was OK but his car was totaled. What a relief to hear his voice. I didn't give a fig about the car.
Tina grabbed first again.
Shirley, congrats on second.
Bonachichi, There is no good way to tell/hear bad news. I just rather hear it straight without a lot of preamble. Give me the bottom line FIRST, then the details.
Dee, LMBO at your alternatives.
Zona, He coulda just said he had good news for you when he got home instead of scaring the crap out of you. I probably woulda smacked him.
DeeDee~ I'm sure it was ur muffin that had those boys running~ ijs~
Zona~ I would have grabbed that check right outta his hot little hands, gotten into the car, gone straight to the bank, cashed that check, and gone shopping until I spent every penny! yup...GONE!!~
Bonachichi~ My MIL is spectacular at calling to give us bad news....in her death warmed over voice she says, "I have some bad news....(pause)..." I can't stand it!!!!~
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Hi LynnD, Saggie....I mean Goldie, and Sacky~ :D
Tina, if someone called me the way your MIL does, I'd tell her that if it's bad, she should keep it to herself, then hang up. Flippin' alarmist.
Teeeeeeeeena Congrats on 1~
Shirley Love that snowflake avatar!
Dianne Great blog today! I'm very proud of you for writing it without any arm twisting. I am so glad that your GD is okay although I know she was hurting and am glad it wasn't something more serious. Being the victim, I guess it was bad news for her.
I'm really not the type to freak out. I kind of implode, becoming very still as my mind races through the facts and assertains how serious the situation really is. Sometimes the news is so bad that I am left mostly speechless, like when my best friend during my school years thru high school, called to tell me that her 5 yr old daughter had been killed in an auto accident. The news so unthinkable, the pain so huge, that all I could do was keep saying, "Oh, God, no." That was a horrible call.
those box jellyfish are deadly....if one of those gets you.....you gonna be stretched out in a casket in your Dale Evans turquoise swimsuit...plump with formaldehyde and there will be people looking at you saying things like....
"well don't she look nat'raul"....and "looks like shes sleeping" and my personal favorite...."SHE IS LAYIN' IN THE ARMS OF JESUS!! CAN I GET AN AMEN BROTHERS AND SISTERS!!"
then somebody needs to pass out in the spirit for the whole effect...
and remember...BOX JELLYFISH.....
Just Lin have you been drinking?
Thanks Just Lin for giving me QOTD!
Where's the lovely Dianne today? I made you a batch of Gingerbread pancakes and put fresh sheets on your bed for you. I hope your Broncos win their next game.
Shirley What? It's not a snowflake? What is it then? Some kind of martial arts throwing weapon?
DeeDee I love the pic of you in your belly dancing outfit. Very fetching, indeed. Those guys probably ran away so they could go get their friends.
DIANNE...what a heart-wrenching blog. You must have gotten 10 years older with that one. But how special that you were the first person your GD thought of.
I don't recall getting any frea-out calls that turned out to be nothing.
I do recall (and will never forget) the call I got one morning, at 7 am and the voice on the other end matter-of-factly stated "Leah was killed by a drunk driver yesterday" My reply was "no she wasn't" and then I heard "yes she was" and sobs. Then the dial tone. I thought I was dreaming. I had to wait and call back to see if Joanne did really call me. When she said she did, I knew it was real and then I really did freak out.
SHIRLEY...you have sure changed your tone to DIANNE!!!But, I like it ;)
ZONA...I woudda smacked the lving shit outta him when he got home!! Then celebrated!!
DEE DEE...only you!! Too funny.
I wish Kgrl would pop in. I knew of box jellyfish in Hawaii, but not how venomous they are.
I feel very stupid. I've been stung many times. Never knew it could be a problem. I know some people go into anaphylactic shock and I was hoping that hadn't happened to Di's GD. Didn't want to mention that, though.
It would have been nice to have a doc help out instead of men peeing on me.
Okay... what's up with Shirley? Are the pancakes poisoned?
Just_Lin & Mo; I am so very uncomfortable dealing with news of a death. I appear to be uncaring but really, I just don't know how to offer comfort for something like that. My heart goes out to both of you. It must have been awful. You're stronger than I'll ever be to handle something like that with grace.
Hi...**chewing and smacking and gulping* I have been busy today eating and stretching out on my new 900 count clean sheets. I have never had sheets like this on my branch in the nest. At first I thought this was all from CAROL as just a little thank you for the last few days but now I see it was from SHIRLEY. I guess you have realized the power some of us have (me with 10 brownie points)! And thank you so much for wanting the Broncos to win on Sunday..we will be cheering AGAINST Kansas City. I was thinking maybe you could get some tassels like JODI AND GOLDIE have to wear.
Thanks for the comments on the blog today. It was very scary to me but after time I was very touched that she wanted to call me right away ...but remember, Nana is the sympathy Nana.
MO, J/L and others: I can't even imagine getting a phone call like you received and hope not to in my lifetime. I know it is still a haunting memory to you and I am sending real hugs to you.
BONACHICHI: I have no idea what kind of jelly fish but it was enough to hurt and scare them and with the lines going into her hand it really scared them.
DEEDEE: I think you should put your belly dancing picture on your Christmas card you send out this year. I would imagine many of your friends and family have never seen this picture and it is so beautiful and a work of art. I can hear the bells clinking as I type!
I have enjoyed reading the stories today and once again want to thank SHIRLEY for all the glam of the day.
MO: Simmer down...maybe this has even got me off the damn clean-up committee.
My husband will be home tomorrow night so I have to pick up the house so it looks like I have been doing something besides shopping while he has been gone. I shopped, dumped the packages on the floor, caught up on recorded tv shows and farmed! Back to reality and the age old question..."what do you want to do about dinner tonight."
Yes Just Lin my avatar is a snowflake. My "Have you been drinking comment?" was about something else you said that when I read it, it did make sence. But I can't find it now so just ignore that comment. Maybe I was drinking and didn't even know it!
CHI CHI...we all handle things differently and it doesn't mean you don't care. And I can tell you with total certainty, I am stronger for other people then I am for myself. I always have been and I guess I always will be. Not sure if it is a curse or a blessing.
DIANNE...wow, you must be really strong to be able to pick up your house...ijs!!
Oh hi Dianne! I'm glad you liked the new sheets and the pancakes. I can make you more pancakes tomorrow if you like?
I have noticed the last few weeks I was a little mean to you so now I will be nice. And I will certainly be cheering for the Broncos on Sunday.
BRONCOS ROCK!!!!!GO BRONCOS!!!
KANSAS CITY SUCKS!!!!
Good night everyone!
Good night Dianne! I hope you sleep well on your new sheets! (((HUGS)))
I'm about ready to puke! ijs~
Carol~ How many brownie points do I have~ And Goldie too....I'm a little worried about her cuz she makes the brownies and then gives them away...does that mean she gives away her points, too?
Bonachichi....
have you ever tried having a man pee on you? When you are on fire from a jellyfish sting you don't care....and you might see something you want to check out later...if ya know what I mean.......^^
Women can pee on a sting as well....its just a little different logistically......
Man or woman..a bond develops....a hero thing....and a lot of people after the experience find themselves wanting to get peed on more and more until its out of control.......and they find themselves going out late at night to get their next "fix".....some may even start paying for it....wreaking emotional and financial hardship on their family's until someone intercedes with an intervention.....some make it....some don't....but the common thread here is that they all smell like piss.....
DeeDee, I have in fact, been peed on every time I've been stung. 4 times now and counting. I don't know what's worse. The sting or the pee.
does it count if I pee on myself?
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Hi and goodnight. I have had a busy day, back to work and all but I wanted to stop by. OMG< I would have died if my family member called up and left that message. I am a major freaker-outer. Ask anyone in my family..lol.
Okay, I am tired and I have to get up at 6a.m to work out..so nighters folks. I will try to read comments tomorrow but I am back to work so I may not have time. Hugs all. :)
Box Jellyfish Profile
The infamous box jellyfish developed its frighteningly powerful venom to instantly stun or kill prey, like fish and shrimp, so their struggle to escape wouldn’t damage its delicate tentacles.
Their venom is considered to be among the most deadly in the world, containing toxins that attack the heart, nervous system, and skin cells. It is so overpoweringly painful, human victims have been known to go into shock and drown or die of heart failure before even reaching shore. Survivors can experience considerable pain for weeks and often have significant scarring where the tentacles made contact.
Vinegar (or Acetic acid) is the only readily avaliable substance which helps with Box Jelly Fish stings, it doesn’t reduce pain or take out the venom but stops futher release of venom from nematocysts (the cells that contain the poison) should they come into contact with either your skin or someone elses.
If you do not get the anti-venom within the first thirty minutes there is a 90% chance you’ll die.
I am reading about jellyfish....very interesting....
Why is Shirley being so nice to Dianne_tattle_in_Denver?
crap I messed that up..
Dianne_tattle_tale_in_Denver..
There, thats better
Dianne..
I get freaked out, just with the words "don't freak out" Geez, just those words would certainly put me in a frenzy.. and if someone tells me to stay calm.. I tell them to go fuck
themselves, there is not calm about
"dont freak out"
That was awful sweet of your GD to wanna call you, I would have been beaming with pride..
Thanks for today's blog.. I appreciate it..
:O)
I was literally lost on utube since 10p.. I have no idea where the time went..
A regular utuber organized a flash mob @ the Plant Hollywood Hotel, right on the casino floor.. I think I watched 10 vids of the process.. and the end results was fab, they did a great job..
I love flash mobbing.. so fun to watch..
Zona..
I would have grabbed the check out of his hand and ran as fast as I could to the bank to cash it.. then I would have bought farmville cash.. LOL
I forgot to comment on Bonacci's comment to Goldie about her grandchildren in Area 51 or wait it might have been Area 51 51?
I agree Bonacci.. Goldie is a
fanowltastic grandmother..
Welcome home J/L.. :O)
if I keep refreshing......it's like George is winking at me~ Yay! Team George~
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Tina..
No, no points are given away when Goldie gives away her brownies.. Goldie brownie's however do give everyone a natural high! Perfect dontcha think!
Brownie Points are only give to one who deserves it... the points range from 1 to 10, and it depends on what someone does that will merit the point.. I would say, the best brown noser will get the most points..
So far Dianne has 10
and
Bonacci has 2
you have zero! ziltch, nada!
Mo,
That surely must have been a awful phone call.. Sorry ♥♥
Mo...
You are very strong when I come to you for something, your advice is always right on.. sorry tho I can't give you brownie points tho, cause then that would be cheaqting..
:O)
Oh crap, I have to go to bed.. I did not read all the comments or even answer some that I wanted to..
Utube screwed me all up tonite..
I will try to catch up tomorrow..
Dianne_blog_writer_in_Denver..
Thanks again for todays blog..
Nite all...
Shirley..
Did you pick the date yet for the Christmas party? We really need to do that..
Post some dates here on the blog and see what everyone agrees on.. and they we shall ParTay!
:O)
Gee, seems to be a lot of peeing going on in here. I hope it's either on the naughty mat or in the shower.
Dianne: I can thankfully say that I've never had a phone call from a loved one announcing the death of a very young person, or the death (or even very serious injury) of someone in my immediate family. I wonder if my luck will hold, and I never will.
To add a bit of levity to this heavy topic today, Dee Dee, the following fragment is for you, darlin', because you totally broke me up! Sing along, won't you?
When I find myself in times of trouble
Hubby always comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom:
Pee on me!
In my imagination
He is in a tub in front of me
Looking up and begging:
Pee on me.
Pee on me, pee on me, pee on me, yeah, pee on me..ee...ee. Lying there and begging... pee on me!
And though we may be parted
there is still a chance that I'll drink tea
Drink until he summons:
"Pee on me"!
Bear ROFLMAO!!!
Whab finally came out of the Bear Cave! Missed you, buddy!
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