Because I reeked of booze, they assumed I was an alcoholic. They wanted to put me in a detox program. They wanted to give me a transfusion. They wanted to do an X-ray or a CT scan or something of my head. Then the media trailed in (along with our Aieee friends).
Everyone talked about the rescue and what a hero I was and how I might have Near Drowning Syndrome. All of this as I was just trying to nab some much-needed sleep since I was flat on my back, anyhow. But they wouldn’t let me sleep.
One of them said, “Wake him up every hour.”
Another one said, “Get him out of here. I mean, you can take him home now. There’s no signs of near drowning, but…”
I pretended to be out of it as Mike steered me out of the emergency room, and then we stood outside with Mike scratching his head.
“s**t,” h
