So, this is what it feels like to save a life

I just saved someone's life, and I don't even know his name. I was cramming for a Social Psychology midterm and decided to take a break. I was on my way to buy a cigar in Berkeley when I came across some sort of ruckus--there was a homeless guy that looked like he was choking. There were people there but no one was helping the guy. Was he faking it? If I try to help, will he bite me? What diseases can I catch from him? Why wasn't anyone helping? The choking looked pretty real to me and no one was helping him, so I sucked it up and went up to him and asked if he was choking. He didn't reply, which is a good sign. People who are really choking can't breathe, so they can't make any sounds, not even a cough.

Shit, I learned the Heimlich maneuver way back in Boy Scouts! I got behind him and did what I could remember about the Heimlich maneuver. But it wasn't working!!! Oh fuck. I'm going to kill this guy. I didn't know what else to do so I did it harder. Zeus was smiling on me that day and the guy coughed out chicken and bones and lived. Whew.

It wasn't until after the police arrived that I noticed how awful the guy, and now myself, smelled. I went home to change and shower and went back to the library. But man was I wired. I was shaking and breathing heavily. Happy, still scared and not able to study at all! 90% happiness and 10% fear? Or was it the other way around? I dunno but I felt pretty good. I felt like I had canons for testicles--and they weighed 5 lbs each. Who cares about the midterm? It no longer mattered to me. People who know me know that I am quite melodramatic when it comes to school grades. In the larger picture of life, getting a "B" on a midterm doesn't really matter. It wasn't a big deal anymore. I saved a life!

I'm definitely going to sign up to renew my CPR certification now. And, FYI, below is how you perform the Heimlich maneuver.

1) From behind, wrap your arms around the victim's waist.
2) Make a fist and place the thumb side of your fist against the victim's upper abdomen, below the ribcage and above the navel.
3) Grasp your fist with your other hand and press into their upper abdomen with a quick upward thrust. Do not squeeze the ribcage; confine the force of the thrust to your hands.
4) Repeat until object is expelled.