According to the site Malaphors, “Three’s a charm” is a mash-up of “two’s company, (but) three’s a crowd” (a way of asking a third person to leave because you want to be alone with someone) and “third time’s a charm” (the third time you try something it will work). The mix-up is caused by the number three appearing in both idioms and with the similar looking and sounding “charm” and “crowd.”
Here’s the scoop: yesterday, our eating ‘cheat’ day, we were thoroughly enjoying our chips, WILD SALSA, people watching, life-planning, and sipping craft bevs, when all of a sudden, Mark slumped over, mumbling, “I need to lie down…” then his eyes rolled back and he passed out. I screamed and called for someone to call 911. The rest is a blur of Dallas Police and Dallas Marshalls telling me to “calm down,” telling me to “back off” and talking to me as if I DID something to cause this. After a few minutes, AMAZING paramedics arrived, and he passed out again, they did whatever they did (so well), and loaded Mark into the ambulance, doing more but outside my line of sight. I waited patiently (not very) for the paramedic from Station 18, Unit RE18, to get in the driver’s seat and take us to fix my Mark. The EMS man was wonderful, calm, and a great driver, especially when a white Escalade veered right into our lane, even as the lights blinked and flashed and the siren blared and blasted. That was the third time I rode shotgun in an ambulance and I want it to be the last. Three’s a charm.
Fast forward…Leo the nurse, Theresa, (I think it was) the wonderful, calm woman who checked him in and to whom I paid the co-pay, and the attending physician Dr. Passanante saved our day. Three’s a charm. They tended to Mark in a steady, professional, and efficient manner. After three (3) liters of IV fluids, seven hours of care, and one easy bus ride home, I thanked the Universe, all the stars, God, and those Team members of Methodist Hospital for a happy ending to this day. His final diagnosis was dehydration and syncope.
I’ve been in an ambulance three (3) times myself, also for dehydration. I am now certain that we’ve experienced this equally and we promised not to let it happen again. Three’s a charm.
Besides being a life lesson, we should ALL stay reminded that hydration (water!) is essential to our good health. We can go out, eat, and drink, but we must drink water throughout the day. Our bodies require it. That’s another way we stay well.
I won’t post the pics, but I did share the story. When hunting the good stuff, look for the helpers (Leo & Dr. P & Theresa, AND the paramedics from Station 18) and find FUN every day. My FUN was making Mark smile when I danced to the constant syncopated beeping tone of some machine at the nurse’s station.
Aloha,
Denise
NOTES:
Station #18 was built in 1975 at a cost of $610,000 to serve the downtown Dallas area. Architecturally, the building is perhaps the most uniquely designed fire station in the Department. With 12,330 square feet, #18 housed more emergency equipment than any other station in the city.