MEMORY A DATE IN THE ANDES – ATTACKED BY A SCORPION

Our Memory for this day is once again from Peru. We were high up in the Andes Mountains on a World Bank Irrigation Project, that I was assigned to in the late 1970’s. I was dating at this point, and free falling for the translator in our camp. Affectionately known by me, as Bubbaloo. One of my first dates was up at the camp and consisted of me inviting her to accompany me for dinner. And to my surprise, her agreeing.

After work, I met her at the door of the camp commissary and kitchen. And trying to impress, I had reached out and opened the door for her to enter first. I stepped out of the way and she proceeded inside. As she passed, something large and black fell off the door frame and landed on her head. She nonchalantly gave her head a shake and a big ol’ 3 inch scorpion fell out and landed by my foot. My heart stopped and I immediately felt my bowels loosening. She calmly kicked it to the side with her foot and proceeded into the kitchen.

Myself, I knew that I would need a fresh change of Victoria Secrets urgently. This was my introduction to Peruvian wildlife. It taught me that something we have been conditioned to loath and fear, was merely an annoyance for someone raised around this type of bug! I will always remember her telling me, ”it’s not going to kill you, just make you real sick”. ”Oh yeah”, I thought, ”what about the heart attack?”