Today was our day to go to the Barbie show. Syd was so excited, she babbled the whole way there about what the costumes would be like and which characters would be in the show. Her enthusiasm was contagious!
Of course, it seems nothing in my life can be so simple.
As we walked up to the entrance doors, Sydney said, "Yuummmm, I smell something good." Outside. We're still OUTSIDE and she can smell it. As soon as she said it, it hit me. Nuts. She was smelling roasted nuts. My heart fell into my stomach. We go to the King Center all the time for their educational shows, I never even thought there would be food today! So a million things are reeling through my brain. Should we turn around now? Will she have an inhalation reaction? Can she sit in a packed auditorium possibly surrounded by nuts? Should I throw away $80? Can I explain leaving to Sydney? I felt sick to my stomach.
I decided to brave on. I took a mental stock of my purse - 2 Epi-pens and 6 Benydryl fast melts. All there, just like always. I felt a little reassured. We went in the doors and the smell wasn't as bad - probably because we were used to it by then. I spied the cart on the far side with pretzels and, of course, the &^$@! nuts. Hmmm, no problem, our seats are on the other side. Didn't even have to walk by it. So we go the souvenir counter, spend too much on a light-up stick (haha) get our VIP goodie bag (we spent too much on the seats too) and go to sit down.
Whenever I enter a room, I A L W A Y S do a quick scan of people and what they have in their hands. I am so quick and quiet about it, most people say they had no idea that I even did it. But I can usually tell you exactly what everyone has in their hands and, if it is a snack, I can tell you what it is, who made it, what the ingredients are, where it was manufactured, and the name of the guy running the conveyor belt. OK, you get it, right? I'm joking. Kind of. 
So, we go in to sit down. We find our seats and the people on either side of us are already there. Sydney sits down next to a sweet grandmotherly woman and I am next to a small child. I settled Syd, put my purse down, looked through the goodie bag and then I looked over. The grandmother had a paper cone. And there was FOOD in it. My heart rate doubled in a millisecond. So I ask (as casually as possible), "Do you have nuts in there?" and, extremely nice woman that she was, says, "Yes, I do. Would you like one?" and proceeded to offer me one by holding out the cone - right over Sydney's lap and in front of her face. I almost threw up.
"No, no thank you." Standing up, I turned to Sydney and asked her to change seats with me. Of course, I am compelled to offer an explanation. So I tell the woman that Sydney has a nut allergy. Do you know what she said? I still can't believe it even now. She was nearly flabbergasted. She kept asking if Syd was OK. I think she asked if she were still too close to her. Then she put the nuts away. She said that Sydney was more important and she didn't need those damn nuts anyway (quote from this 75 year old great-grandmother) and she'd eat them at home. During the show she even pointed out to me that the people in front of Sydney had just opened up some nuts and to make sure Syd doesn't lean forward and touch the chair.
I have no idea who this angel was, but she will forever be in my heart. She doesn't know anyone with nut allergies, but she knew. She KNEW. She felt so much compassion toward a total stranger.
She has filled my heart with hope.
Thank you, great-grandmother, wherever you are.
Mood : hopeful
Read the rest of Barbie Live! in Fairytopia
Oh, she also correctly used the cents sign and the dollar sign! 
