"WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME THAT I LOOK LIKE A SPACE ALIEN?!"
But mostly, I just shook my head in disbelief. Because when you realize your face has mutated into the configuration of a Star Trek character, words have a way of escaping you.
There is a story to accompany the picture, but there is sadly insufficient explanation. Latino and I joined some friends for a canoeing trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in northern Minnesota. (Side note: If you get the chance, go there. It's a beautiful and unique experience. Just be sure to bring observant friends. And lots of Benadryl.) I left instructions for my friend who was taking care of Sasha and Lucy for the week. When we were halfway there, Latino said, "Shoot! I forgot to tell the cat sitter to leave the door open! You won't be mad at her if the cats escape."
The journey was a memorable one. There was beautiful scenery, multiple lakes to paddle across, campfires, the distinctive calls of loons, and quality time with Latino and our friends. The most memorable event happened on day four. I rubbed my eyes in the morning, and thought that my face felt a little strange. I had no mirror to see for myself what was going on, so I mentioned to Latino that the area around my eyes felt weird. He glanced at me and said I looked fine. I periodically would rub my eyes to try to ascertain what was going on. However, I was not too concerned because Latino said I did not look any different. Another male friend reaffirmed what Latino had said as well. This went on for a few hours as we were paddling and portaging back toward the car. I rubbed my eyes, asked my husband and our friend to look at my face, and was reassured there was nothing wrong.
Enter the only other female on the trip. She took one look at me and proceeded to yell to her husband, a doctor, that I was having an allergic reaction. FINALLY! Someone to verify that there was something wrong with my face! My doctor friend gave me Benadryl and Ibuprofen and continued making sure I took a dose every four hours. By the time we got back to a vehicle with a mirror, I had taken two doses. When I timidly peered into the side view mirror, I started freaking out. I could barely recognize myself!!! The bridge of my nose that had once been a mountain between my eyes had sunken into a valley of a swollen mess. It was like a glacier had formed right above my nose and was gliding across my face, protruding in front of my eyes. I was later told that before the Benadryl, my whole face, ears, and neck were also swollen. Thank heavens no one took a picture of that. The photographic evidence I have is plenty bad enough to haunt my dreams. Also, it took three days for me to look normal again, so it was really fun explaining to everyone what happened to my face.
More unbelievable than the fact that my face exploded was that Latino did not notice it. He said it was because I had my glasses on. Apparently my glasses provide a Clark Kent like disguise that can even help space aliens go incognito. I really need to be a spokesperson for these glasses!
It is a mystery to me what caused the allergic reaction. I thought I got a bug bite the night before on my forehead, but I was also sunburned. This was not the end of the story. I had a similar reaction in South America recently when I was sunburned. I noticed it pretty early on and asked Latino if my face was exploding like it did in the Boundary Waters. He confirmed that it was. I started taking Benadryl right away so the swelling did not get as bad that time.
At least he is learning. Or I must not have been wearing my Clark Kent glasses that time.
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