Ahhhh.....America!

Given that yesterday was the fourth, I feel a post celebrating this American life is appropriate. I could drone on and on about all the perks, but I think my recent visit to the ER encapsulates some of them nicely.

Preface: Tuesday night (alright, technically Wednesday morning, it was 12:30), I took a spill. Slipped on some miscellany junk on my floor, and wound up landing on my chin. Cut to me rubbing said chin, thinking all's well, only to find a handful of blood. Panic, nausea, and near-fainting ensue. The mom throws a wet wash-cloth on it to slow the gushing, the step-dad pulls up the truck, and off we go to the emergency room.

Now, I'm thinking we're over-reacting a bit. People go to the ER in the wee hours because they got shot. Not because they're clumsy fools like me. The medical professionals, however, agreed with the old folk's that my wound needed some help staying shut. Into the room I go!

Here's where the thankfulness-to-America comes in:

1. We have emergency rooms...and competent staff to boot.
2. We have treatment options; instead of black stitches resembling chin-whiskers, I was able to walk out of there with the wound glued up.
3. Tetanus shots. Sure, they cause discomfort. But compared to the alternative (lockjaw, etc.), they are definitively worth it.
4. Animal planet was on the TV. The show? About man-eating tigers in India. Literally hundreds of people get eaten alive by tigers every year. Eaten by a tiger? Cut on the chin. Perspective, people. We've got it good.
5. Related to 4; when I got home there was a tiny, sweet-as-sugar, stray cat hanging out on our front porch. One that liked to be pet and didn't bite. Much better than finding a stray tiger, no? ;)

Why do you guys love America?




Images by: www.sandiego.gov, and Mandy & Arjin