It’s a special kind of talent

One of my family’s favorite meals is grilled cheese sandwiches with soup and we’ve had perfect weather for it lately. So last night I heated up the griddle and threw some butter & cheese slathered bread on there. In the midst of the sizzle and talking to TheKid and mentally planning what needed to be done to prep for dinner TONIGHT before leaving to meet with a friend, I noticed out of the corner of my eye that the griddle was sitting cock-eyed on the counter. I reached out to correct it. And I reached for the handle. I swear. But somehow, I managed to reach all the way under and lay my right (and dominant) hand on the underside. You know…where the heating element is located.

TheKid was running water for dishes but thankfully it wasn’t hot yet. I started yelling “COLDWATERCOLDWATERCOLDWATER!!!!” while he stared at me bug eyed and confused. All he knew was one minute I was making sandwiches and the next I was running at him screaming like a mad woman. To his credit he did manage to get cold water running in the time it took me to cover the few feet between us. He then stood and rubbed my back while I cradled my fingers under the water and tried to keep the audible sobs to a minimum. Once the initial pain subsided, I attempted to finish the sandwiches.

Do you know how uncomfortable it is to work over a heated surface with a burn? It kinda sucks.

My husband returned home a few minutes later, took one look at the awkward way I was functioning & the remaining few tears, sighed and said “You burned yourself didn’t you.”

Note the lack of surprise.

After soaking my fingers for about half an hour in cool water (while Jon finished dinner), I’m happy to say only ONE actually blistered. (Two others were sore last night but okay today) It throbbed pretty bad for a few hours but by bedtime, I barely noticed it. Although I do have to say – it is QUITE difficult to wash one’s hair in that situation. I credit my husband’s insistence that I soak them and his wonderful bandaging job for the total lack of discomfort today.

I still haven’t figured out how exactly I managed to make contact that far under the appliance when the handles are dominant and RIGHT THERE and, um, heat resistant.

I just seem to have this special talent for injuries.