Ode to a lung...

The other week I noticed that the gym was re-institutionalizing a spinning class. Spinning is stationary biking with an instructor just like a seated aerobics class. I went. Why not? I had never done that and I hear it is great cardio (Christmas is coming and I am eating poorly so could use the extra fat-burning) and if Lance Armstrong can do it well, I sure as hell can too!

Besides I do cardio every morn for 20 min and I spike my heart rate to very close to max every time. I am in shape no? I can take it.

Off I go and I am on the bike, spinning my head off. Harder harder, faster faster. (meanwhile the instructor is saying ‘this is all about having fun…are you having fun?”) I am leaving a pool of sweat on the ground. It is raining off the handlebars. Sweat if flowing from my head to my shoulders, armpits down my arms to my hands. Drip drip drop steady like. Then I cough. I have this dry cough that only becomes a problem when I exercise.

As I cough. Out comes this thing. It is like a gristly old chunk of hamburger; the kind that gets stuck in your teeth as you eat one. Where does that come from???? I haven't had a good burger since I said goodbye to my bbq.

I am breathing so hard my lungs hurt. And so do my lats.... but this thing is rolling around in my mouth like a pea and its growing. What am I suppose to do with it????

I have to spit it out.

I may have lost a piece of lung. Do you think? Is that possible?