Contact “IN CASE OF EMERGENCY” CONTACT (NOUN) The ridiculous paper you are forced to fill out at the dermatologist’s office when you are just there to get a zit injected that makes you feel like shit because you realize just how alone you are. Example: Her hand froze as she was filling out the form and came to the dreaded line, “In case of emergency, contact . . .” Every time I’m at a doctor’s appointment, I struggle with the question: “Who should we contact in case of emergency?” For a few years after my divorce, I named my ex-husband’s parents. My mom and dad still live in northern California, so I would most likely bleed out before they could make the six-hour drive to Los Angeles. My former in-laws were nearby, and I knew they would be there for me if shit ever truly hit the fan. They told me as much. Sadly, though, regardless of their offer, they’re not my family anymore, and it doesn’t feel appropriate to list them as the people I would depend on if something catastrophic were to occur.
