A while back, out of nowhere, I began having stomach problems.  I went to the doctor and she said I was having GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) symptoms.  “You never had this before so it’s probably being caused by something new to your daily diet.  And since you don’t drink alcohol, pop, coffee, tea, have much citrus or eat spicy or fried foods are you eating a lot of some new type of chocolate?”

Last week, my husband Bill’s relative asked us to pick up some Gas-X for her. Bill and I were totally embarrassed but I made him buy it because it was his relative. Plus, if I bought it I would feel the need to tell the cashier, “By the way, this isn’t for me.” And then, what if I ran into someone I knew at the check-out? Would I awkwardly attempt to block the Gas-X on the conveyor belt or just casually say, “Oh, hi Bob, just pickin’ up some Gas-X for a relative. Say hello to Mary.”