For those of you who missed it, I received the nickname of “The Little Mermaid” at the April meeting of the Society of Flavor Chemists held at the Omni Netherlands Hotel in Cincinnati.
(PauletteLanzoff, {Mane, USA} says I should feel good that at least they called me “little”).

This is what happened:

It was between what had been a well presented and well attended Chemical Sources Association Meeting and the first speaker for The SFC education meeting. The crowd was thirsty-tongue hanging out thirsty. As the co-host, I left the meeting to find the catering manager and get some water delivered.
What happened next is still somewhat hazy, and no, I didn’t have anything to drink-that’s why I left the meeting. Somehow I fell down the carpeted steps outside of our meeting room, slid at full speed across the marble floor at the bottom and landed headfirst in the fountain in the Palm Court. Diana Moore, {Moore Ingredients} and several of my Wild colleagues, pulled me out and kept me from drowning.
I was soaking wet from head to toe and also had the alluring “wet T shirt” look. I ran to my car and was driving towards home when the pain hit and I took myself to the emergency room. After a cursory exam they sent me home with some Ibuprofen and said I suffered muscle strain and would be OK in a few days.
When I came to work the next day I found a copy of the “Little Mermaid” video on my desk and a handful of change with a note saying that I didn’t have to dive into the fountain for bus fare. It was a big joke and I accepted the position as the butt of the humor.

As it happened, the consequences were much more severe than “muscle strain”. I’ve had surgery to repair a broken right shoulder and torn rotator cuff. The good news is I can now pitch like Tommy Johns. I also broke my right foot in four places. I had surgery for this July 12 and I now have seven screws, two pins and a piece of artificial bone in my foot.
To the frequently asked question, “How did it feel to be screwed seven times in one day?” The answer is “it hurt like bloody hell”! I’m getting around home in a battery-powered scooter; I’ve been nurtured and fed by my friends. I hope to be cast-free by the middle of September and plan to attend the September 20th meeting in Princeton.

My advice to anyone else hosting a meeting is: Let them get his or her own water and watch your step!