I'll Do What I Want...

There are so many things in our lives that we do because we have to. It can really suck the joy out of life to always live and act in a way that is dictated by what you should do.

This morning I did what I wanted to do. I woke up a little on the late side, so even though I didn't have time before trying to get out the door to church, I still made myself delicious, fluffy pancakes. Just for me. It was great. Then I wrote this blog post... which I also "don't" have time for, but I did anyway. Just because I wanted to!

It's going to be a good day...

You didn't know I'm famous?

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Attack of the Jellyfish!

Our Neeley family reunion was at Holden Beach this year and it was a total blast, for the most part. There was a small moment of crisis when my 14 year old sister, Ruthe, was stung by a jelly fish while swimming in the ocean. She was, of course, in pain and there were screams and tears.

My mom rushed into the house and started calling for volunteers to pee on Ruthe's sting. I had heard this urban legend before, too: If you get stung by a jelly fish, pour salt water on it and pee on it. Case closed, you're healed. Right?

While people were getting rounded up to "relieve themselves" on Ruthe's stung leg, I decided to hop on the internet quickly and see if we really should humiliate ourselves and Ru by actually peeing on her. I mean, that's gross, even if it would help someone's sting feel better. Let's be sure about this, people. Sure enough, Google led me to the American Red Cross website and a "what to do if you are stung by a jelly fish" article. Both said: No matter what you have heard, don't pee on it. It really doesn't do much.

However, Ryan, my cousin-brother (he has lived and been party of our immediate family for the last 10 years or so) had already sprung into action and began to fill up a small bucket with pee. (Apparently it was perfect timing for him, or he is just skilled at peeing on command... I don't know if I want to know which it is.) He was all ready to dump it his full bucket on Ruthe's leg when I stopped the madness and told everyone about my official research on the world wide web.

Ruthe's leg was still in pain, but we put vinegar on her sting, rather than urine (in accordance with my Google search). Ryan then had to dispose of the bucket, but no one was really harmed in the process. Except maybe my Aunt, who was sitting on the back porch while Ryan filled up his bucket in the corner... apparently in times of true emergency (like providing pee as quickly as possible for a jelly fish sting) there is no time for discreteness.