"Gray Light - The Storm Within"

The original name of The Secret Storm (a CBS 1950s-1970s soap opera) was The Storm Within. The title was changed to "The Secret Storm" after the sponsor, Bromo-Seltzer, expressed concerns about the title's association with upset stomachs. (Wikipedia)

I’m not saying I’m the best cook, but when it comes to food safety, I at least try to behave like a responsible adult. Which is why my current situation is entirely my own fault. I ate something in someone’s house that I absolutely should’ve known better than to touch. But there I was, trying to be polite when what I really should’ve said was, “Oh, I’m on a diet,” or “I’ve taken a vow of fasting,” or even, “My doctor says I can only eat air before noon.”

But no — kindness won. And I accepted the meal.

A simple burger, I thought. What could go wrong.

Well, plenty. Especially when you know the cook has a… let’s call it a relaxed relationship with refrigeration. I already suspected the meat had spent a little too much time out in the wild before being tucked away. And sure enough, my stomach confirmed it.

The result? The kind of sickness no one wants to discuss but everyone understands. Let’s just say I’ve become very aware of my digestive system’s hopes, dreams, and immediate needs. Mild, thank God — but still not ideal on a day when I have to be out of town and pretending to be a functioning human being.

Thankfully, modern medicine has invented things for exactly this scenario. So that’s the plan: take one of those things and pray I don’t have to excuse myself every five minutes during an appointment.

Sometimes kindness comes at a price. Today, that price is… urgency.