Quite literally.
Saturday evening my boss, Clare, was throwing a party for her daughter's First Communion. A small gathering of friends and family were invited over for dinner. Dan was outside grilling London Broil and asparagus, some were downstairs watching the Kentucky Derby, while myself, Andy, and a few others were chatting in the living room.
Sometime during the evening, Dan came upstairs with a meager three pieces of steak on a platter claiming that was all that was left for dinner since GJ had gobbled the rest up. We laughed and I quipped that I thought that was the sample platter. Dan extended the platter saying we could have it if we wanted. Andy, Natalie, and I each grabbed a piece and began nibbling. Andy and Natalie had napkins and I, not seeing anymore in sight and failing at catching the juices in my hand, popped the chunk of steak in my mouth and began chewing resolutely. Dumb move #1.
I got up to wash my hands in the kitchen and decided to swallow the chunk of steak. Dumb move #2.
It didn't go down willingly and I slightly panicked, but could still breath. I thought about trying to cough it up, but decided I didn't want to gross anyone out, so I kept swallowing in vain.
Walking back to the living room, others seemed to notice I was having a problem and gave perplexed looks. Andy asked if I was okay. I nodded, eyes watering, still trying to swallow the chunk lodged in my throat. I went to take a breath, found I couldn't, and quickly shook my head. Everyone in surround sound cried, "Are you choking!?"
I nodded, patting frantically at my throat. :eek:
Andy deftly did the Heimlich maneuver, the piece in my throat moved, I gulped and it went down my esophagus begrudgingly. I inhaled sharply and it felt so good.
Denise got a glass of water for me while everyone else asked repeatedly if I was okay.
"Now that I can breathe I am!" I replied with an embarrassed smile. :o
Not being able to breathe = not fun.
Oh...but the night is not over.
Seeing as the crisis was averted, the teasing began. I was told my food should be cut up into baby sized pieces, that Andy must really love me since that could of been his ticket to freedom, and so on. I took it all in stride.
Dinner was finally ready and we all filled our plates.
Only a few bites into my food, I heard Denise make a strange yet painfully familiar sound. I looked up sharply and she locked eyes with me, gave me an "I'm okay." wave of the hand and went into the kitchen.
She, unlike me, tried to cough up her food into the sink. When it wouldn't, she made a frantic gesture, and Andy, once again, did the Heimlich and the offending piece of steak ended up on the kitchen floor.
By now, Dan is horrified that his meal is killing his guests and the kids are running around squealing that the dinner is deadly.
Granted it wasn't the food's fault, in fact it was quite delicious. Denise and I were simply abashed at not being more careful.
So Andy was a hero twice over that day. Dan claimed it was his innate Spider-Man abilities. ;)
