A little of this, a little of that

It all started with a walk on the beach to pick up shells. My sisters and I recently vacationed in South Padre, Tex. Take your time and hate me for a few minutes. I usually feel angry at people who take winter vacations while I am at home during February and March in Minnesota. Now that you have that out of your system, I will continue my story. I confess that compass directions mean nothing to me. I do know up, down, right and left! Also I often daydream and pay no attention to the details around me.
I walked until my bag was full of shells and then turned around to walk back to our condo place. Somehow my sister and I had gotten separated but I was wearing a wristband with the phone number and address of the condo area, so I was not concerned. Unfortunately I did not bring a bottle of water or a cell phone or money with me. I did have my new straw hat and sunglasses, however.
I started to feel very hot and thirsty. I begged a bottle of water from a boy on the beach, and I trudged on. Then a couple asked me if I was o.k. and I replied. “I don’t know.” They immediately helped me up a sandy hill to the sidewalk where a free island bus would pass by soon. I sat on the bus bench and started to feel faint. A guy from the beach walked across the street, and I yelled for help in a hoarse whisper. This total stranger took me a block to his home where I met his wife Amber, his neighbor Eric, and his two dogs. My rescuer, Casey, thought I was suffering from heat stroke (I had been walking for three and a half hours) so he called the paramedics.
They arrived within 20 minutes. In the meantime he poured cold water over my wrists, removed my stinky shoes and socks and poured water over my ankles. It felt so good. The medics took my blood pressure and asked for my medical history. My blood pressure was low, and my heart was beating very fast. Those are signs of being overheated. They asked if I wanted to go to the hospital, but I declined because only sick people go there. Then I started to cry and one of the medics informed me “That there is no crying on the island.”
Eventually they left, and Casey contacted my sister Missy, to come and get me.
We were all relieved to be reunited! My sister Missy had been trying to think of a way to call my husband and inform him that they had lost his wife. I drew many conclusions from this adventure. I should never leave home without my husband who has an excellent sense of direction. I should only travel in my own zip code. I should recognize that Casey and Amber and Eric are angels who walk among us or at least really good samaritans!
Whether you ever get lost or not, this is a good comfort food!