I found this blog in my Drafts folder. It was written last December, but never got posted. I was still new to Blogging and didn't know where to find my drafts. I found it tonight and decided to post it any way....Thanksgiving 2008 was filled with family, friends and a houseful of fun. Our traditional Thanksgiving dinner has long been steak. I think I'm the only one in the family who truly misses turkey, and that's probably as much from the memories of Thanksgiving as a child as it is from a personal preference for turkey over steak.
We had 13 around the table this year... Me, Andrew, Emily and John, John's parents-John and Joanne Sharpe, Kristen and Thomas Rose, and the Hoelzles: Kolbey, Robin, Kailey, Olivia and Taten. John did an amazing job seasoning the steaks and Emily perfected our traditional "Magelby Rolls." Kristen brought her much sought after sweet potato casserole and Robin brought an assortment of pies that satisfied EVERYONE's favorite flavor.
After dinner we engaged in a hot and heavy game of "Catch Phrase." Good thing houses are well insulated in Minnesota or the neighbors would have called to complain about the screaming and laughing! Catch Phrase was followed by a game new to our family: "Wits and Wagers." I have decided from the positive reaction of the family to the games that the best way to chose a game is to go to "Games by James" and ask the clerk for some recommendations. He was so excited and animated in his recommendations that it was hard to choose which game to buy: so I bought 4 or 5 of them! I can't wait for a chance to try the others! I can't remember when I've had more fun watching the kids play. They were even funnier than when they were little!
Friday John and Joanne went antique hunting while Emily, John and I stayed behind to fix dinner: Asian Grilled Salmon: one of my new favorites. I even bought a new tank of propane so I wouldn't take any chances on the propane running empty.
Best laid plans??? Well, while waiting for the grill to heat up, I noticed the temperature was dropping on the grill gauge... I squatted down to peek in the peep-hole to see if I could see a flame. Nope, no flame there. "Well, time to change the propane tank." I thought and while still squatting I reach over to turn the gas off in preparation for changing the tank and accidentally turned the ignition switch on instead. WRONG BUTTON! The flame was out, but the gas was still flowing. The force of explosion knocked me over and I screamed. John came running to see what was wrong and I ran for the ice machine and grabbed a handful of ice and buried my face in the pile of ice in my hands.
Emily rushed me to the emergency room. I could feel my eyes swelling and my face was hurting so badly I was worried and scared. I thought for sure I'd really seriously burned my eyes. I knew that burns took several hours to fully manifest all their damage. In addition, I could feel chunks of broken, burned hair falling into my hands. I could smell it.... who doesn't hate the smell of burned hair! The ER staff was great and I was immediately put into a room. They were quickly assessing the extent of the burn and the ER nurse brought in a basin of ice water and a wash cloth to use as a cold compress for my face. I didn't want to give up my ice pack, but they told me ice can actually cause more tissue damage.
I don't know what I would have done without Emily with me in the Emergency Room. She helped keep me company and gave me someone to talk to. Normally I don't get so stressed when I get hurt, but I have to admit I was more than a little scared. I could feel my eyes continue to swell and I knew I'd be in trouble if I lost my eyesight. The nurses didn't have time to change the cold compresses on my face often enough to control the pain, and I couldn't see very well to find the wash basin. Emily kept changing the cold compresses for me for the full 6 hours we were in the emergency room. It was the only thing that made the pain tolerable.
After several hours, frequent evaluations by the ER docs, and a few doses of morphine (better living through pharmacology!) I was sent home with good news. No permanent damage!
While Em and I were in the ER, John finished cooking the salmon. I think it actually turned out better than when I make it. I was so thankful for John's good cooking. I didn't realize I was hungry until we got home, but it sure tasted wonderful!
Despite everyone telling me I should lay down and rest, I couldn't unwind. The adrenaline was pumping through my system for quite a while after I got home. Even the morphine didn't slow the effects of the adrenaline! I knew I dodged a bullet that night. I was finally realizing that my eyes were ok (My biggest worry) and that my skin wasn't burned badly enough to permanently scar. Oh, yeah..... and John saw his mother-in-law on Morphine mixed with endogenous adrenaline. I'm sure I'll hear about for a long time to come...!
Thanksgiving 2008: It
was a great holiday, despite my little mishap. I had an angel on my shoulder that day... and definitely added one more thing to be thankful for. It was a miracle I wasn't blinded. (The eye doctor says I have my eyeglassed to thank for that!) I missed a little work time because I couldn't wear a face mask on raw skin, and I spent some time walking around looking like a lobster. A few people asked "Have you been someplace warm??" Define "WARM" I would respond! Some admitted later they thought I'd had a chemical peel. (Could I have just invented the propane facial!)
As time passed I learned that eyelashes and eyebrows DO grow back, blistered skin heals and women can't hide bald spots with a comb-over any better than men. Yes, it was a season of thanksgiving...
