Did Anyone Pack the Pepto-Bismol?

To me, Pepto-Bismol ranks up there in the kiddie toolkit alongside Calamine lotion for poison ivy. No one over the age of twelve ever seems to need the stuff. At least no one I know. But if you travel overseas, it’s always wise to pack Pepto-Bismol in your luggage. A lesson I recently learned on a trip to Asia.

Kid Stuff  

Pepto-Bismol even looks like it’s made for kids.

What other medication comes in bubble-gum pink? The packaging is so unique that Moms can easily find it in a cluttered medicine cabinet.

Go Mom

And in our gender sensitive world, I’m a little surprised that the pink color has stuck. Pink might be okay for Sally … but shouldn’t Billy’s version be blue? Which of course reminds me of something silly that Phyllis Shlafly might have said in her opposition to the Equal Rights Amendment. After all, she viewed gender in very specific terms.

Are those Peppers?

So there we were. Far away from home. A wonderful meal in a local Vietnamese restaurant. And without thinking, I poured the entire serving of hot sauce into my fish Pho. That’s a beef bouillon soup with a lot of noodles topped with fried fish sticks (hey – I’m just trying to get the imagery – if you want accuracy – consult an Iron Chef).

My first spoonful introduced a hot pepper. My mouth, eyes, and gut, were instantly on fire.

Nothing Good Comes from Flaming Guts

The next day, it wasn’t pretty. It was as if I’d embarked on a colonoscopy prep.

Far, far off, in a distant land where the people are gentle and kind, I was eliminating toxic waste. Hadn’t America already done enough harm to Vietnam? Did I have to leave my mark too?

Think Twice Next Time

And so, that very afternoon, I came to realize the value of Pepto-Bismol. A wonder drug indeed. And though I hadn’t packed it, a friend did, and being kind, shared the mother lode with me.

So, I’ve learned my lesson. Next time I travel overseas I’ll be ready.

Calamine lotion anyone?