Page 18 - Advance Copy: Todd Kaufman, Author

TODD KAUFMAN
the exit, many of them placed their hand on my arm offering their words of wisdom, or veiled threats that I better not mess with their little girl!
As the door clicked shut with the exit of the final bridesmaid, I got down on my knees in front of Sarah who was sobbing and gasping for air. I managed to lock eyes with her. “Sarah, I know what this is. This is what I do. You are having a panic attack. Panic attacks are incredibly uncomfortable, but they are not dangerous.”
Her huge saucer-like eyes looked at me, filled with tears. Between sobs, Sarah uttered a broken, “I know. Are you sure? I think I need an ambulance.”
“No, Sarah. You’re going to be fine. Panic attacks are extremely uncomfortable but they’re not dangerous. You’ve had this before and have you ever died from it?” I took her hands. “Sarah, do you want to get married today?” Before I did anything, I wanted to make sure that it truly was the day that Sarah was prepared to commit her life to Dan.
Through all the tears and panic, Sarah nodded her petite head and said, “Yes.”
“OK – then Sarah, I want you to pay really close attention to me. I want you to repeat everything I say, and everything I do. Can you do that?”
Again Sarah nodded.
I come from a family of girls, the exception of course being my awesome dad, and a wonderful black Lab named Monty who was my constant companion in my youth. All four of us kids were born about five years apart, and I was the third child, the youngest being my kid sister. As is seemingly incumbent upon all big brothers, I often showed my kid sister Leasa, how much I loved her by tormenting her. One very effective strategy I used—one that all of us big brothers know – was to follow my little sister around the house and repeat everything she said and did. As effective a strategy as it was, it would consistently meet its demise when she, usually in tears, would
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