Hot Stuff

I was a toddler. Less than two years old.

Popcorn was a favorite snack. There were no foil pans that you shake over heat until the exploding kernels makes the foil expand and is ready to eat. No nice little packages to put in the microwave and push the popcorn button. 

Way back then the way we made popcorn was to put the grease (we used lard) into a pan to get nice and hot. Then the kernels were added, a lid put on the pan, and the pan was shaken back and forth until the kernels popped.

Mom was making popcorn one night. I was a nosy little girl even then. I obviously wanted to see what was in the pan. 

I toddled over to the stove and grabbed the handle of the pan. It was hot so I let go of it. But I had started it moving in a downward direction. Hot lard poured down the front of me.

The doctor prescribed a burn ointment.

The only thing I actually remember is standing on the toilet while Mom smeared the ointment on my legs. She was practically in tears and worried that my legs would be scarred.

She was so worried about my legs that she forgot about my hand.

My legs have no sign of damage. The back of my hand is scarred. It has always looked like the hand of an old woman. 

The use of my hand was not affected. Thank goodness.