I don’t know about you, but I hate getting the hiccups. It doesn’t happen very often, but when it does, it can never be at a convenient time. At first you make the declaration to those around you, “I have the hiccups.” Like they have not already figured it out! Then they all join in trying to help rid you of them:
1. Put your head in this paper sack and breathe. paper or plastic?
2. They attempt to scare you by yelling. but you know it’s coming, you’ve done this before
3. Drink this water. so that you can hiccup and possibly choke
4. Eat a piece of bread. again, the choking!
5. A spoonful of sugar to trigger the nerves. okay…make it white icing and I’ll do it!
All attempts are to help you at first. Then it becomes a challenge. A game of sorts.
I am about to reveal to you a secret solution to this occasional dilemma. You will either be deemed a hero or a witch. I lean towards the latter. Simply ask the hiccup-or this question, “When is the last time you rode a white horse?” p a u s e ……. and if they hiccup again or hesitate, add, “Can you tell me right here, right now? When was it?” And if their answer is, “Well, I’ve never ridden a white horse”, then you ask, “Well, what color horse HAVE you ridden?” Yep….now you are just make stuff up. Simply distracting them. But nine times out of ten, this works to rid the beastly annoyance.
Case in point. We lived in Bella Vista, Arkansas. I was in line at the grocery store behind a young woman who had the LOUD hiccups. Folks in NW Arkansas are generally friendly, so I thought I was helping her when I asked out of the blue, “Um, excuse me. When is the last time you rode a white horse?” I wish you could have seen the expression on her face! She wanted to bolt. Instead she answered, “Um, I don’t think ever.” I was quiet for a moment, then said, “Your hiccups are gone now.” She paid for her few items, looked at me, and out the door she went never saying another word or hiccup. Yep. I’m pretty sure she thought I was a witch. 🙂
I did this more recently at a photo lab here in town. The little cashier had the hiccups. I asked the question. Then I said, “Are your hiccups gone?” Her response? First she looked around, like there might be a camera or something. Then turned to me and the other lady working there and said, “They are gone! I’ve had them all afternoon! How did you do that?” And so I told her. “I’m a witch.” NO, NOT REALLY! 🙂
Have a great day today, my friends. And never doubt the element of surprise! 🙂
stuff i tell my sister 
brilliant i am going to try my best to remember this 🙂 though knowing me i will get it wrong and ask when was the last time they painted a horse white or when was the last time they drove a horse mad or worse i will take so long trying to remember they will have either gone or had me removed long before the hiccups go and i will still be like ‘no dont tell me, i got this one, there is a horse in it somewhere and colours, some kind of colours and ermm what did you have again?
but i really do think its a good idea!
have a great day
xx
🙂 I cannot for the life of me recall who first used this on me. Otherwise I would have given them credit! But it worked and has worked many times again! I think you could make up your own special question….if nothing else, you might just laugh the hiccups right out of them! 🙂
Love this! That remedy sounds a whole lot easier than the one I’ve always used as my standby: holding my breath as long as possible. Plus, mine doesn’t always work as I start wondering at what point am I going to pass out and not care if I have the hiccups or not!
Haha! That is yet ANOTHER remedy I failed to list! Just call me the next time you have the hiccups….I’ll get em out of ya! 🙂
it is like when I was little and the doctor asked what flavour I wanted for a shot he had to give me and while I was deciding I had the shot and the whole thing was over
my son gets the hiccups all the time, so I am going to try this – thanks
What a smart doctor! I’m gonna tell my doc about that trick! 🙂 I hope this works for you!
Ho Ho Ho – we’re going to remember this one! Problem is, I suffer from them often so the remedy is unlikely to work for me 😦
Well then it will be up to your companion to change it up a bit and “surprise” you! 🙂 LMK!
I love this!! When I was in the 4th grade, if any of the kids in my class got the hiccups, our teacher would take that kid outside, right by the door and when they came back in the kid’s hiccups were GONE! But they were sworn to secrecy and I never got the hiccups that whole year, at least during class so I never learned the trick. I wonder if this is what she did?
I can’t wait to try this next time someone near is besieged with the hiccups! Great story and think of the good you are doing in the world! 🙂
What a smart teacher you had! haha…. “witch” someone and lmk how it goes! 🙂
OMG- she was a nun, I forgot to mention, which makes the whole ‘witch’ thing even funnier…thank goodness she’s an angel now…but yes, I can’t wait to witch someone! 🙂
haha!
haha!
Well, at least you are a happy witch having found a solution. lol.
yes, definately the “good” one! 🙂
Hi Paula, my daughter gets the hiccups, and I can hardly wait to try this!
LMK! It’s kinda weird, but in a fun way ~ 🙂
When I was the title I thought to myself – “when I did a cattle run in Colorado in 1992”) – laughing to myself,, talk about hiccuping my way to one beg false assumption! What a great idea – it’s worth a try, and if it doesn’t work, it will be worth the giggles…:-)
the only person it doesn’t work on ….is me! another disclaimer….if you try this via text or e-mail, it also fails! 🙂 Glad this took you back to CO though! Hopefully great memories, as it sounds like FuN! 🙂
It was terrific!! And thanks for the heads up – I’ll never try it on you if I ever meet you! 🙂
🙂
I just had the hiccups the other day, they’re horrible. I can’t wait to try out your remedy –
Does it only work on first timers or does it work every time?
If the person asking you “surprises” you and is intense enough….yes! It will work.
So I can’t say to my husband, “Ask me when was the last time I rode a white horse?” next time I have the hiccups?
Tell him NOW….and pray that he remembers!
Oh yeah, good idea… I’m running off to do it now 🙂
LOL….
I love it! But here’s a hint, since it doesn’t work on you…..try bending over and drinking a glass of water….upsidedown! (The trick is to drink from the opposite side of the glass) Works for us every time! 😉
I my word, Jodi, I don’t know that I am coordinated enough to do that!!! But I will try! ty! 🙂 psb
Now I want someone to have the hiccups so I can try this!
haha! be sure and report back!!! 🙂
Oh my – I hope I can remember this!! Maybe I should write it down and carry it with me. Well, if I remember where I wrote it down! Thoroughly enjoyed reading this and you are a good witch:)
haha…..I think you could make up any surprise question, Jeannette, and it would work. And “sometimes” I’m a good witch! 🙂
oh, good! I’ll work on making my own surprise question!
and do share!
LOL, I’ll have to remember that. But seeing how I’m the one usefully with the hiccups, who will ask me? And does it work if you know it is coming? My favorite way to get rid of them is to take a spoonful of brown sugar. It taste better than white and it seems to work – sometimes. 🙂
It usually doesn’t work on me, but I have used it on family members repeatedly and it still works….and they KNOW it’s coming! As for the brown sugar….I can’t keep it in the house because I love it that much and will eat the entire bag! 🙂
I would too…the brown sugar…eat it all…and I used to! Have you ever had brown sugar toast? MMM…
I came back to this post to see if I had done the white horse trick correctly…I think I did. I must be a bad witch. boo! 😦 fun to read all the comments tho! 🙂
Some good advice! Did someone park their horse outside Walmart?!
Yep, it is actually an old Walmart, now a Tractor Supply store. Just cracked me up! 🙂
What an entertaining (and sounds like effective) way to get rid of the hiccups!! I will be sure to try this the next time someone near me start hiccuping 🙂
the reaction is so much fun ! 🙂 esp when a stranger!
I enjoyed your posts with the photos and LOVED this one about the hiccups. I plan to try your white horse suggestion the next time I or someone around me has the hiccups. Thank you for the idea.
Russ
Well if you get to use it, lmk how it goes! 🙂
HA! Great strategy! I usually drink water upside down from the glass – that works, but this sounds a little easier. I wonder if you can do this to yourself? FYI, really great post!
Ha! Well if what you are doing works…..no need to change it….but this is kinda “fun”. The element of surprise ~ Thanks and have a super weekend! 🙂