Member-only story
Exploding Head Syndrome
Yes, it is a real thing and I have it.
I once lived in an area not far from a river and on the other side of the river from that township was a chemical plant. One night I heard a huge explosion that woke me up. I looked out my window, trying to see any fire or smoke — nothing. But figured it was too far away. It has to be that chemical plant.
At the time my daughter worked for a local daily paper. If anyone knew about an explosion, the paper would know. I called her and she told me they hadn’t heard of anything locally and the police scanners had had nothing about an explosion. But if she learned of something, she would give me a call.
So I went back to sleep — -as best I could.
It was during a time in my life when I had a difficult job in a company managing nursing homes in Pennsylvania. As an RN, the only one in the main office, I was moved around from Quality Assurance to Marketing and then back to QA. The owner was an irascible older man who seemed to appreciate my intelligence and my wit. Although the office had an intercom system, Frank, the owner wouldn’t use it; he would yell for the people whose offices were closest to his. I was one he would yell for.
After the “explosion” there were several nights when I heard Frank yell for me and several nights when I heard my father (also named Frank)…
