Who is your ICE? You know… your “In Case of Emergency” contact? Don’t
inbox me. It’s a rhetorical question for the most part, but did you immediately
think of someone? Your spouse? Your significant other?
Nothing makes you contemplate your life like going to the doctor and
filling out new forms. I had that experience again today. Oh, it’s fun! “Emergency
Contact Information” to me is like nails down a chalkboard. It’s not that I don’t
HAVE it, it’s that when it comes time to fill that out I am reminded that I
still put my ex-husband down as my ICE. We have been divorced for 8 years. Yes, he
knows he's my contact (at least I think he does). I also put my sisters and mom if there is
room. To me that question is like “List your hobbies”. When I know in fact I
haven’t had many since sometime like 1993.
ICE. In Case of Emergency. It’s innocent enough and it’s a good thing
for people to know, right? Who do we contact? And why is Becky writing about
it? Because people who have been alone for a while whether because of divorce
or being widowed sit with the stupid pen that almost always only half-way
works, hovering over this. We have to think about it. Who is my ICE? Who cares
if I totally fall out here in the doctor’s office? Who knows I’m AT the doctor’s
office? Who would even know my full name if the doctor calls them? Rebecca Who?
It makes me think of single mom friends who move. Who do you list if
you don’t know anyone? How do you feel when your pen hovers over the line and
you have to leave it blank? I thought about certain people that I actually know
who have faced this. I realize, though, there is something we can do! If someone
is new to your church, your school, or your neighborhood and you know they don’t
know anyone yet, ask them to lunch… get to know them. Let them know you aren’t ‘cray
cray’ as we say and let them know you are safe to add as an emergency contact
for them and for their kids if they have them as well. Let them know that if something
happens you have their back. Let them know you’re safe to get their kids from
school if they get stuck somewhere. I promise you, I have this struggle and I
HAVE support, so I can only *imagine* what it feels like to be new, alone, and
not have an ICE. They will SO appreciate the gesture!
I hate filling out new forms. I do have some hobbies and I do have
emergency contacts (although I could not for the life of me remember my sisters’
phone numbers… they were in my phone… at home!). I hate filling out forms
almost as much as I hate when they take my blood pressure and weigh me. I think
that, in and of itself, almost makes me fall out! I just hope Todd answers his
phone when he gets that call… “Hello, sir… do you know a Ms. Rebecca Wilkenson?
We just took her blood pressure and weighed her….you were listed as her ICE…”
Urgently,
Becky
October 21, 2013
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