Hidden Treasures of Blackston Lake

A BEAUTIFUL JANUARY DAY on the Magnificent Mile in Chicago. The conference that was suppose to be so enlightening suddenly turned into a shaking, whirling carousel for Carla Sharp. She walked out of the hotel, started across Michigan Avenue and was suddenly frozen, unable to move in the middle of Chicago’s busiest street. What is happening to me, I can’t walk, I feel like I am a statue, I have to get off this street but I can’t move! She felt a strong arm around her waist and another arm and hand on her right arm; “Its ok, Carla its Mark let me help you cross the street”. She whipped her head around and glanced up and saw her friend and co-worker Mark Smith, she went limp in his arms as he whisked her up. Carrying her across the street to a park bench at the corner, he gently patted her cheeks and she came to. “What in the world just happened did we have an earthquake, I felt my whole body spin and shake, I couldn’t move"? Carla looked toward Mark dazed and said, “Oh thank you Mark, I could have been hit out there.” Carla was shaking her head very fast as if she was trying to shake off a bug. “Carla, are you all right, you just stopped in the middle of the intersection. You didn’t turn your head just starred straight ahead that is when I came running out and helped you. The color just drained out of you and you fainted. Do you feel ok? Should we get an ambulance? ” Mark looked around for a place to get out of the cold “There’s a café right around the corner. Let’s go in there and get something warm to drink while you get your bearings back.” Mark helped her up, holding her waist and arm, he was afraid she might fall. Inside the café, Mark ordered two coffees for them and when Carla started to shake, he sat next to her putting his arm around her, he thought Oh baby I’ll warm you “Carla we need to get you to a doctor, I don’t like the symptoms you’re having.” “Mark, I don’t feel like myself at all. I don’t know what just happened to me out there in the street, but I will admit it’s got me scared. Here we are in a beautiful city and I feel like I am in a snow globe that someone keeps shaking"! Mark motioned for the waiter and asked where the nearest hospital was; the waiter left for a moment, quickly returning, “There is a cab pulling up out front for you, he will take you to the hospital it’s only a few blocks away.” The Emergency Room was not busy when they arrived; several doctors checked Carla. After all the tests where done Mark called Craig about what had happened and why he wasn’t at the bar, “is she ok Mark” Craig asked. “I think so, get us a table in the Bistro, I think we should be out of here in a few minutes, the Doctor is coming towards me now” Mark said as the Doctor told him he could go back and sit with her while they waited for the results. “Mark, I want to thank you for your help, I am glad you were on the corner and so observant. You might just have saved my life today, thanks.” She offered her hand and Mark squeezed her hand as he smiled at her, “you’re going to be ok Carla"! When the doctors came back in Mark stood up, shook hands with him, and thanked him for his help. “Miss Sharp, it appears from everything we have checked and tested for, you had a panic attack; and from what you have told us at a very inopportune place. Thankfully, Mark came along when he did. You where very lucky, I’m going to suggest that you go back to your hotel, take a long hot shower or bath and one of each of these pills that I am giving you. No alcohol! These are going to relax you and help you sleep. Tomorrow you should feel like your normal self.”