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Hal just kept working. He worked and he worked and he worked. He worked through breakfast. He worked through lunch. He worked clear through until almost dinner. He just couldn’t stop until his work was done.

He hammered the last nail to a flattened finish. Then, he stepped back to take a proud look at what he’d made. That’s when he suddenly got “low.”

As Hal took that step back from his just-finished project, he knew something was very wrong. He became sort of dizzy, feeling light-headed. His felt weak. He noticed he felt sweaty even though it was a cool 72 degrees in the garage. He felt nervous and kind of shaky.

He sat down on the sawhorse sitting next to him. He took a few deep breaths and tried to clear his head. That’s when his little brother, Sal, walked in. He noticed the look on Hal’s rather pale face and asked, “Yo, bro. What’s the prob?”

Hal felt his head clearing a little and looked up at Sal. “I dunno, Sal. I just finished Summer’s new doghouse and suddenly got all goopy-headed.”

Sal said, “Uh huh. When’s the last time you ate something? You been beaten the boards out here since before breakfast and I haven’t seen you in the kitchen once.”

Hal, still a little foggy-brained, said, “Huh…I…uh…I think I ate…no…no, I didn’t eat anything yet…you know, you’re right. The only thing I’ve had all day has been water.”

“Uh huh,” muttered Sal as he walked closer to Hal’s new doghouse masterpiece. “Um, I’m thinking we really need to get some sugar into you, Hal. Like the ER docs say. Like STAT.”

Hal, still groggy, started to stand. He noticed he was a little wobbly. He agreed with Sal, “Yeah, I’m thinking you’re right. This must be what Willie Walnuts feels like when his blood sugar gets low. Wow. Low blood sugar is a pretty yucky feeling.”

Sal snorted, “Well, yeah. But, Willie’s got diabetes which can make his blood sugar a little tough to control. He’s told me all about it. He really does get low blood sugar, what he calls ‘hypoglycemia’. You don’t gots diabetes though, bro. Even though you probably don’t have real low blood sugar – not like Willie does – but the effects you’re feeling from going too long without eating are the same. And, you gots no excuse for getting like this. Some ‘Health Nut Hal’ you are.”

“Guilty as charged, Sheriff Sal,” agreed Hal. “OK, let’s go in and get some dinner.” He started to turn, but stopped and said, “Oh…but what do you think of my doghouse? Pretty freakin’ good, huh?”

Sal had a little smirk on his face as he grabbed Hal’s arm and headed him toward the kitchen door. “Yeah, Hal, it’s pretty good. Nicely done, son. But, once we get some food in you, you may want to come back out and cut a door into it so Summer could actually get in.”
 

Dr. Gregg
Posted – July 24, 2012