Dear Readers,
My day began simply enough — the kind of quiet, gray morning that feels like a gentle pause before the world wakes up. The clouds hung low, the air was cold but comforting, and for a brief moment, everything felt calm. Little did I know, that would be my only calm moment of the day.
Still half-awake, I moved through my usual morning routine — freshening up, letting my two dogs outside, and grabbing a drink to start my day. A normal person might reach for a cup of coffee, but as many who know me can confirm, I’m not exactly normal. Instead, I decided to treat myself to a soda my dad had brought home the night before — my all-time favorite, Mountain Dew Baja Blast.
If you know it, you know how dangerously good it is. But this time, I missed a small detail that would change everything — the fine print: Tropical Lime.
Now, you might be wondering what’s wrong with that. Well, here’s the catch — I’m severely allergic to strawberries, and “tropical flavoring” almost always includes natural flavoring made with strawberry juice. One big gulp later, I knew something was terribly wrong.
My face swelled, my breathing tightened, and panic hit me hard. I grabbed two Benadryls, but within minutes I needed my EpiPen. Thankfully, my brother was home — quick-thinking and calm — and he called 911. Within moments, not one but two ambulances arrived. The paramedics were kind and efficient, working quickly as they loaded me up and took me to the ER.
The next five hours were a blur of IVs, medication, and exhaustion. My nurses and doctor were incredible, caring and patient through it all — even the paramedics made me laugh despite everything. It wasn’t how I imagined spending my day, but I was deeply grateful for the care I received and for being safe in the end.
And yet, even in the middle of all that chaos, life had a strange way of showing me light through the storm. That same day, I received an email — an invitation to interview for a city job next week. Maybe it was life’s way of reminding me that even when everything seems to fall apart, something beautiful can quietly fall into place.
So yes, the day everything went right and wrong all at once was far from what I expected — but maybe that’s what new beginnings are supposed to feel like: messy, unpredictable, and full of meaning.
Until next time,
With love,
Monique
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