Oh dear god was this a memorable birthday for my mom.

First, we went to the NW Flower & Garden show, then PIke Place, so that was good.

Then, I dropped her off at the hotel so she could rest for an hour before dinner, then I went home. Started some homework, then heard Bo's zippo *clink* as he filled it with lighter fluid, then *clink* again, then the sound of flames being whipped through the air.

*Oh shit,* I thought. *He's set himself on FIRE!*

Turns out the fluid from his zippo had dripped down his hand and arm, and when he lit it the flames caused 2nd degree burns on his fingers (that sounds so much more serious than saying he has blisters on his fingers, doesn't it?)

So I tried to help him take care of the wound while giving him space to be angry about the pain, then I went out to dinner with my parents.

I called Bo after 30 minutes, after we were seated and before dinner started, when suddenly we heard a man yelling to my left. We looked over, and saw this man being helped out of his chair. I instantly thought (being closest to him) *HEIMLICH!* but when I ran over and saw his hands curled up to his chest and the look on his face, I realized I was out of my league, and made way for Mom: SUPER NURSE EXTRAORDINAIRE! I made myself useful by helping a couple of kids get out of harm's way (out of sight of the man going into fits on the floor)

Mom helped calm the man down (he started yelling a few times), take his vitals and whatnot while a fireman (seated with his wife at our table) helped mom and organized the ambulance pick-up on his cell phone and fed them the man's medical history, as dictated by the man's girlfriend.

Finally the ambulance arrived, and mom was relieved of duty, while the patrons in that entire section of the restaurant were re-seated elsewhere.

Turns out the man had had a seizure, had a history of seizures, had just had brain surgery AND was not on any anti-seizure medication! Poor fellow went into a seizure while sitting at the dinner table in a restaurant half-filled with children!

I was, of course, terrified, and tried my best to stay out of the way, seeing as I have no *real* medical training (the expired First Aid card in my wallet is proof) and am a mega-klutz. My dad felt the need to hover over my mom's head as she knelt on the floor with the injured man's head in her lap.

Mom was a pro! Once the EMTs came in, she got up to wash her hands, sat at our new table, and acted like nothing out of the ordinary had happened... she did, however have more wasabi than usual with her sushi...

Long story short, Mom was a hero on her birthday, and the restaurant manager didn't even offer her free dessert! ...just kidding.

Oh, and then while we waited for mom and dad's cab to show up, the fireman and his wife came walking back towards us. Their car had been towed! Great treatment of a hero, huh?

TO THE RESCUE! Thankfully I had driven to the restaurant, and knew exactly where the impound lot was. It was cramped, my Jeep is in desperate need of a new carpet kit, and there's sawdust all over the seat, but they were extremely grateful for the ride. They even insisted on paying the fee for the parking garage. Seems I wasn't completely useless this evening.

So, yeah, it was an interesting evening.

HAPPY FREAKIN BIRTHDAY TO THE KICKINEST MOM ALIVE!