There are no coincidences...

[Paschale]

So let me tell you about my day. The alarm went off, and it felt far too early. I rolled over, hit the snooze, and stole a little more sleep before crawling out of bed. After showering and shaving in a state more groggy than usual, I was off for a rehearsal in Kalamazoo.

It was about twenty minutes into my ride that I happened to glance at the car radio and saw the time. I was on the road an hour earlier than I needed to be. I could have still been in bed, dozing away, but for some reason, when I set the alarm last night, I bumped the time forward by one hour. DanG.

There was no reason to turn back, so I decided I'd make the best of it and find a place to sit down and enjoy breakfast and the paper in Kalamazoo. I turned off onto my normal exit and saw a restaurant on the right hand side of the road. I sort of cringed, wondering if this was the best K'zoo had to offer me this morning. I've always steered clear of this place, since it never appealed to me.  I drove into a parking spot, but just decided I didn't want to eat at this place called Russ's, so I went down the street to another breakfast place. 

I opened the door, and was immediately engulfed in cigarette smoke. I don't mind cigarette smoke in a bar at night, but first thing in the morning at a breakfast place is not a place I want to be smoky. When you eat at one of these smoky breakfast joints, your clothes smell like that for the rest of the day. Strike out at Colonial Kitchen--Russ' here I come.  I headed back to the first place.

When I got there, I plopped down at a booth behind a couple roughly the age of my parents. They were some of the younger people in the restaurant--it's that kind of restaurant.  After I ordered, I was lost in the paper, minding my own business. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the couple in the booth in front of me get up as if they were about to leave. I found this odd, since they had just been served their food a moment before. I saw the diminutive woman get behind her very tall husband, and wrap her arms around his waist, tugging on him. I suddenly realized what was going on: the man was choking.

I asked the woman if she needed help, and she frantically said yes. I jumped out of my seat, rushed over to the guy and got behind him, and did the Heimlich maneuver on him a couple of times. I lifted him right up off the floor, and thankfully, it worked.

It was a very bizarre scene. After it was done, it was really as if nothing had happened. He thanked me, and I said no problem. I think some people in the restaurant didn't even have a clue as to what happened, though the people next to me told me that I was that guy's guardian angel this morning. It was all rather awkward and uncomfortable--they went back to their booth, and calmly finished their breakfast. I went back to reading my paper, as if nothing happened. The couple and I had a few minor exchanges: they thanked me again, and I made some comment about being grateful that my Boy Scout training came right to mind, but that was the extent of it.

As they got up to leave, the man thanked me again, grabbed my check, and bought my breakfast. I told him he didn't have to do that, but he insisted, and I'd imagine I'd do the same thing. The waitress told me I saved the guy's life, and the manager thanked me, but it all felt surreal to me.

Looking around the restaurant, I realized I was the biggest guy there, besides the guy who I did the Heimlich on. Most of the men were old and frail, and may not have been strong enough to do the Heimlich on the guy. The manager would have been, but he must have been back in the kitchen when this all happened. I reflected on these things throughout the day, and realized that I was supposed to be there.

I messed up my alarm, was on the road an hour early, stopped once at Russ' and turned away, and then went back because of a smoky restaurant up the road--a Russ' I've driven by hundreds of times over the past five or six years and never once thought of stopping. All in all, I came to the conclusion that it was no coincidence that I was there this morning.

I get goosebumps thinking about it.

[Don K]

God moves in mysterious ways. 

[CHARLIE]

Yep, I agree with you. You were definitely supposed to be there that morning for that purpose. Those kind of experiences leave you with a good feeling.

[Tom]

I want to say something, but I don't know what.

Way to go, hero. 

[sawguy21]

That is a wonderful ending to a really strange story. Good on ya Paschale

[Bill]

Congrats . . .

I try to remember things like the heimlich, mouth to mouth and cpr - but never had to use them - whewww . Good that you were there and did it right - I certainly woulda bought your breakfast/lunch/dinner at any restaurant !

[DanG]

WOW!  That's really something!

If I ever get a chance to meet ya, I'll buy your breakfast all over again!

[CHARLIE]

Of course, Paschale, you have to understand that breakfast ain't breakfast without grits. So when DanG buys you breakfast.......you'll get grits......I bet........

[DanG]

Ya DanG tootin', Charlie!  I've also noticed that I've never had to Heimlich anybody for eatin' grits.

[Paschale]

 

Or if you did...it'd make a mess of the place, wouldn't it?

 

[DanG]

 

Yep!  Ballistic Grits just ain't a pretty sight!  It ain't all that great when ya get a little too much pepper on yer eggs and ya sneeze with a mouthful of grits, either.

[beenthere]

Prolly don wanna let that ballistic residue set too long in the chinny-chin hair either, before gettin out the curry comb. 

[Norm]

Way to go Dan!

Great way to start the morning reading good news such as this.

[Patty]

Aside from the mental picture Beenthere and DanG just left with us.      I am real proud to know you Dan. You did good. And yes, you were meant to be there at that moment. Life is strange isn't it.

[scsmith42]

Nice job Dan.  How does it feel to have been an instrument of the Almighty?  Definitely makes one think...

[dewwood]

Dan you were definitely meant to be there.  Strange how some people just look and pass on by or do nothing and others(thank goodness) react without thinking and turn a bad situation into a great thing.  Good on ya Dan.

[tcsmpsi]

What had he choked on?  (obviously, not grits)

I noticed in your post before, your notable appreciation of the World.

World has a thing about that and tends to bring opportunity for one to appreciate themselves, as well. 

Thanks for sharing the moment, Dan. 

michael

[UNCLEBUCK]

You were suppose to be there Paschale ! Remember the charles lindbergh movie with jimmy stewart when he needed a small mirror and a lady in the crowd came out of nowhere after driving all night to get there and she had the perfect mirror, the mirror saved his life . DanG  

[getoverit]

Having saved one's life gives purpose to your day. It's a good thing to have a purpose, even though the day may happen to have started off as a mistake. God can and does use anybody at any time to fulfill his purpose.

I feel blessed just to know you !

[Shotgun]

 

Dan, this is the first thread that I read today. What a rewarding thread it is.  Thanks from northern Michigan for being there to assist that fellow.  Congratulations for your willingness to assist.  And thanks for sharing it with us. 

Did ya have your Sparty hat on?

Norm