I had to save myself, needless to say.

My plan:  four miles. I walk four miles often.  It is nothing. Sometimes I take 30-mile bike rides.  I took a 40-mile ride last weekend.  Sometimes I crash in the middle of a ride and lie down on a picnic table.

But I don’t crash on walks.

After a couple of miles I felt dizzy, thirsty.  I did not have a bottle of water with me.

I walked.  I kept walking.  What on earth…?  It wasn’t that hot.   This had never happened to me.

Put your back into it, lass.

I really had to sit down.

I walked very, very slowly toward the church on the corner.  I sat on the steps.  I thought I might faint.  I put my head down.  I pep-talked myself.  If you just wait a few more minutes…then you’ll get up….  Then you’ll take a shortcut home.

Woman in a gorp breakdown.

The shortest route home was a busy street. Go!  Do it!  It would take me past the health food store, where I would eat and drink and feel well again.

I walked very, very, very slowly. I passed a bar.  BEST NACHOS IN THE CITY, the sign said.  I considered buying a bag of chips, but that was not quite what I needed.

Okay, one block, two blocks, a long block…  At the health food store I bought gorp and a bottle of iced tea.  It was very expensive.   This is why I don’t buy health food.

Outside I sat down on the sidewalk. My hair was plastered down with sweat. My shirt was damp with sweat.  I pulled the iced tea bottle out of the bag and realized I LOOK LIKE A HOMELESS PERSON. I drank the tea.  I ate gorp like a starving person.  I began to feel myself renewing.

After 10 minutes I felt fine and walked home.  My glucose was back!  Or something.

I should have water and gorp with me at all times.