Me, shots, and my woosiness as a kid... total woose.

I used to hate getting shots. Now this does not mean that I now like getting them. I just don't have quite the freak out fear that I once had. How I actually got over my hatred is a good story... but a story for another day. Today's story is about me, my dad, and the time I went to get a tetanus shot.

I was 17 years old. My experience that got me over my fear of shots was still a year away. Mom and Dad decided I needed to get my updated tetanus shot before I went on a trip I'd won between my junior and senior years of high school. My dad was retired so one day in the summer he drove me out to the air force base hospital to get my shot. I knew about the shot well in advance so I'd really psyched myself up for the shot. I was still nervous, but felt I was adequately prepared in the mental and emotional departments.

Sitting in the waiting room was me, dad, and some younger children waiting on shots. I went in and hopped up on the table. The doctor or nurse or PA, the person with the needles, was looking over my chart and announced casually "Oh, she's due for her measles shot too." Suddenly all my preparation went out the window. I was suddenly scared absolutely shitless... stomach churning. I pretty much wanted to have a breakdown. But I looked to my left and saw these little kids sitting in the waiting room watching me. And I realized I had to be brave so they wouldn't be scared. The person with the needle asked if I wanted it in one arm or one in each arm. I opted for one in each. First the tetanus... BAM!!! It feels like someone hauls off and hits you incredibly hard in the arm. I can remember quietly saying "put the band-aid on, put the band-aid on!" as if that were going to really help the pain. Then they did the measles in the other arm... still a punch, but not nearly as hard.

Now the man with the needles was finishing up my paperwork... and I start getting woozy... I was closing in on passing out. That was pretty much my norm back then. If I got worked up badly about something as soon as it was over I would nearly pass out. It happened at the dentist's office before too. I don't know what I said, but suddenly he was cracking some tube open and putting smelling salts under my nose. Holy. Shit. Yup... that stuff works. I was pepped right back up.

Dad and I get out to the truck and have just left the back gate and the dizziness is back. I tell dad he needs to pull over. We pull into the gas station where he had friends working. I ripped the door open and slung my feet out and hung my head between my knees... and tried to breathe. Yup... stupid shots made me almost pass out.

Then Dad took me into the gas station and bought me a Coke in a glass bottle. I was an adventure as a kid sometimes. :)