Ain’t Got Time For This
May 26, 2022
Remember when I said there’s never a dull moment with me? 
After our awesome recording session today, Ken took me out to dinner at the Aquarium Restaurant in the mall next to the Grand Ole Opry.
Everything was going fine until we finished our meal and I made it as far as the exit out of the restaurant into the mall. 
The pain that I usually feel on my left side—complications from celiac maybe?—skyrocketed from my usual 3 to a 12. I bawled my head off, hyperventilated so hard I almost passed out, and generally tried in vain to keep my wits about me. 
Meanwhile, Ken is running back into the restaurant confirming (for the third time) that there was, indeed, no gluten in the steak or the mashed potatoes that I ate, the manager is scrambling to line up a wheelchair for me, small children are staring at me in fear because I am causing quite the ruckus….
We finally scrapped the wheelchair idea, and Ken half-carried me to the car. At the condo, Ken ran into the office asking where the closest urgent care was; they wanted to call 9-1-1.
For the next hour, Ken and I discussed our options: a) urgent care, b) hospital, c) ambulance. I told him we’ve spent enough money on this trip. The poor guy finally fell into bed.
As I’m sitting on the couch writing this post, my pain has settled into about a 6. I feel like I’ve had the crap kicked out of me. Must have been all that hyperventilating. 
One thing’s for sure: I hope this pain keeps going down and I avoid the ER. I have to be at the recording studio all day tomorrow. I don’t have time for all this drama.
About Marie de Haan
Marie is a gifted pianist, playing since the age of nine. As a teenager, she composed mainly instrumental piano music. She released her powerful debut single, “I Am Broken,” on October 22, 2020, a song whose creation drew heavily upon the trauma she endured as a victim of childhood sexual abuse. Marie held a benefit concert on September 10, 2021, in Skagit County. A portion of the proceeds went to CrossRoads Youth Ranch; this local organization—through equine therapy—empowers “at-risk and sexually exploited youth to heal, grow, and thrive.” She has continued to write music: Christian, folk, and country. Marie loves hiking, gardening, and photography. The Pacific Northwest—where she lives with her husband—is the backdrop for her favorite activities.