I used to bring my son a small gift when returning from a business trip. This trip, I stopped in the hotel gift shop and saw some unusual band-aids - brightly colored stars and hearts. The thought went through my head that he could use them for the cut on his face.

Immediately, I went to my room to call home and find out what was wrong. I had two friends who sat for me. One answered the phone and said "Nothing's wrong. Lawrence is fine." Then came a commotion and a lot of frightened crying. My son came in the door with the other sitter. He had been hit in the face with a hard ball losing one tooth, breaking two, and requiring 36 stitches. The two guys went into a panic - useless. I was able to coordinate a neighbor and the doctor from Detroit.To this day I know when he is in trouble. A mother thing, I guess.

Another time, I was making a sales call in Manhattan and suddenly felt like something was very wrong. I was running late but stopped to call a friend who was my emergency contact for my son. She was in a state too- said "Something is wrong." She had been trying to get her daughter. Just then there was a loud explosion on the street. Manhole covers went flying up and down the street. Stopping to make the phone call probably saved my life.