One Day When We Lay Our Mortals By

Author: Mawutor Akosua Ametame

Life has a funny way of throwing curveballs at us, and sometimes, those curveballs force us to confront our existence in unexpected ways. Early this year, I had a near-death experience that left me both shaken and introspective, with a healthy sprinkle of humor to lighten the heaviness of the topic.

It was just another ordinary day when I found myself alone at home, a rarity in my usually bustling life. With no one around to distract me, I decided to indulge in a pack of noodles, craving the comfort of carbs. In my infinite wisdom, I ordered the noodles with extra pepper, thinking I was being adventurous. Little did I know, I was signing up for a culinary disaster.

As the night wore on, I settled down, satisfied and full, only to be jolted awake by a sudden panic. I felt like I was choking, and my throat was burning from the pepper that I so enthusiastically requested. It was as if my body was staging a protest against my poor culinary choices. Despite my nose being wide open, I couldn’t catch a breath. I was gasping for air like a fish out of water, and let me tell you, this was not the moment to regret my late-night noodle decision.

In a moment of sheer panic, I ran to the bathroom, feeling both nauseous and, let’s be honest, slightly dramatic. There I was, throwing up and struggling with stomach cramps, all while pondering the cruel irony of my situation: here I was, missing out on the chance to go out and enjoy good food and maybe even meet some fine boys. Instead, I was sitting on the cold bathroom floor, contemplating life and my unfortunate food choices.

I desperately needed my phone to call for help, but it felt like it was miles away. With every ounce of strength, I crawled back to the bedroom, hoping to reach my phone before the darkness swallowed me whole. I stretched out my hand, grasping for my lifeline, but then everything went dark. Talk about a dramatic plot twist!

When I woke up the next morning, I was surprised to find myself alive and well. I felt like I had time-traveled through a horror movie and emerged on the other side. As I went about my day, doing the usual chores, the reality of what had happened slowly crept back to me. I thought, “What if I had died last night?” I could just picture it: “Local food enthusiast dies tragically from over-pepperized noodles. Last meal included an excessive amount of regret.” Not exactly how I wanted to be remembered!

That experience left me with some profound questions about life and the fleeting nature of our time on this earth. One day, when we lay our mortals by, what will we leave behind? Will it be a legacy of adventurous food choices, or perhaps the memory of all the fine boys we never met because we were too busy choking on our late-night snacks?

This near-death experience was more than just a scary night; it was a wake-up call. It made me realize how fragile life is and how quickly things can change. It encouraged me to appreciate every moment, savor the good food, and not let fear hold me back from meeting new people.

So, here’s my advice: live fully, laugh often, and don’t take yourself too seriously. Embrace the messy moments, whether it’s overindulging in spicy noodles or missing out on a night out. Cherish the relationships you have, reach out to loved ones, and be open to the adventures that life throws your way.

And who knows? One day, when we lay our mortals by, I hope to be remembered not just for my near-death experience but for the joy I spread, the connections I made, and perhaps, a few hilarious stories about how I almost choked on noodles instead of having a romantic dinner.

Life is a beautiful gift, filled with laughter, love, and, yes, the occasional bad food choice. So let’s embrace it all and make every day count!

4 Replies to “One Day When We Lay Our Mortals By”

  1. We’re grateful that you’re alive.
    Life is like this diagram I illustrate below:

    Birth………………………….Me…..Death

    This shows how each and everyone of us is close to death, how it can happen in a jiffy. If we’re to write our own obituaries whiles we’re alive, what will we include in it, is it what people would truly testify of? Life is indeed to be appreciated and to be lived in the moment.

  2. Charley cheers to more peprisky moments … This is such a beautiful piece reminding us savor every moment of our lives..!

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