Let’s say you are making tacos. You put the oil in the pan and turn on the heat. Then you think of something you meant to write to your husband. So you sit down and start composing your email. And you get a bit distracted.
So you write. And read.
And then you turn around.
The flames rise high. They are hot. (Flames generally are.) You panic.
So first you look at it in a puzzled sort of way. Then you get out the fire extinguisher. Thing is, you never really thought you’d use the darn thing, so you aren’t exactly sure what to do with it. So instead you put the lid on the pan. And turn the heat off. And screech a bit.
Then you decide, “well, I have a pot holder here. I’ll pick the pan up, with the lid on,” because the darn flames are still coming out, “and I’ll take the pan to the back yard. It will go out then.” But when you pick up the pan the lid falls to the floor. You screech again.
Your younger son is suggesting what you are doing isn’t the best thing to do.
You carry the now high flaming pan over to the sink, thinking the curtains (which are old, ugly and faded) might catch fire. But they don’t. You don’t even think about your own hair or body or anything.
Your older son comes in and picks up the phone to call 911.
You toss the pan into the sink and turn on the water.
Hissing and sputtering in rebellion and anger, the flames go out.
The floor is now grease spattered. The sink is a mess.
And, darn it all, you still don’t have dinner ready.
Your older son quickly starts cleaning up because he is a good sort of guy. And he calms you down too.
Your younger son shows you how to actually use a fire extinguisher. And says that what he just witnessed is reminiscent of what his middle school science teacher, Mr. Hodges, might demonstrate in class.
Yeah. Let’s just say you experience all that.
When your husband comes home how much you wanna bet he’s gonna suggest you have a “fire extinguisher practice party”?
We’ll send out invitations when we figure out the date!
Still alive and ticking ….
—–