Kids and hot dogs go together, at baseball games and especially at picnics.
A very dear friend of mine lost the younger of two nephews a few days ago when, at a picnic, a little girl’s mother cut a hot dog in half, gave half to her daughter, and didn’t throw away the other half.
The little boy - adopted from a Russian orphanage in December after spending more than half his life there - evidently was hungry and not accustomed to seeing food lying around for the taking. He took the other half and accidentally swallowed the entire half. My friend, a registered nurse, couldn’t dislodge the hot dog half. The paramedics got there quickly - to no avail.
My friend, also a registered psychologist, believes the older brother is “scarred,” the parents are distraught with grief, the extended family members are revisiting personal and family issues better left buried.
It’s baseball season, summer is upon us, picnics and family gatherings will abound. Kids and hot dogs go together; you and people you care about should make absolutely certain kids and hot dogs don’t go from our lives together.
Herb Drill
Jacksonville, FL