you might…

You might be allergic to something when you look in the mirror and your arms, legs and face are covered in a splotchy erratic dark red rash.

You might freak out and call your mom even if you are 31. And she might turn to Dr. Google and run through the endless lists of possibilities while her daughter keeps saying, “don’t tell me” every time “oh my” comes out of her mouth.

It isn’t until mom says, “well I know this is a long shot but have you come into contact with cement.”

You might scream “YES!” At the top of your lungs relieved to know this isn’t some flesh-eating bacteria feasting on your skin.

Silence on the other end of the phone reveals that coming into contact with cement isn’t common in mom’s world.

Oh that.

You see, we are doing a home reno project right now and when there are 10 (80 pound) bags of concrete laying in your backyard and then it decides to rain and you’re the only one home you pull on your big girl pants and start heaving 80 pound bags of concrete mix into trash bags while some of them split open and get everywhere. You furiously shovel concrete into bags all the while staring in wonderment at the sky that this is the day it decides to rain in over 40 days straight of dry searing heat.

You might scream Really?! at the sky while shaking concrete covered fist.

You might.

And now you might realize that should you ever decide to quit your job and become a construction worker you are now disqualified because being allergic to concrete isn’t really conducive to being successful in that line of work.

A shower ensues and then immediately the rash starts to subside. A call to the dermatologist reveals that since it is going away I should wait and see. If it starts to come back then I should come in.

Whew.

Today? No rash.

Althought you might still be cursing that dang cement.