Lisa a la Flambe
This sort of post needs to start with "Don't worry, I'm just fine." Tonight I experienced a little refresher course on propane and open flames that ended with me losing the hair on the backs of my hands. (Don't worry. I'm just fine.) We have a gas grill that has lived a good life, but in its heavy use, the ignition switch finally gave up the ghost, and we have been lighting the workhorse by inserting one of those automatic lighters with a long barrel into a small hole near where the propane first enters the grill. I have been doing this for some time with no problem. Tonight, I went to light the grill as normal, turned on the propane, lit the automatic lighter. Hmm. Lit the automatic lighter? No? Why isn't this thing working? Hmm. Oh, here's a lock on the lighter. Flick the switch. There! It's working now. KA-BOOM! (Don't worry. I'm just fine.) Now, let me tell you, that I yelped loud enough to frighten the kids and elicit an "Are you alright?" from Don, who was in the other room. I was definitely spooked, though I did turn off the gas before racing to Don to inform him I hadn't started the grill yet.
The actual experience, in retrospect, was rather awesome. When the lighter ignited the gas, I saw a flash fireball (well, more like an oval) about 1 1/2 to 2 feet long and about 8 inches high. (Don't know how deep.) A wave of heat smacked my face, I yelped, and then I smelled singed hair. It actually took me awhile to feel any discomfort on my hands, and at the point when I did, I realized some of the hair had been burned off the backs of both hands. (Don't worry. I'm just fine.) I got a light singe on a few hairs on my head, those precious hairs that God has numbered, and I was very, very, grateful that God cares about them, and that my Guardian angel helped me light that lighter as soon as I did. The frustrating thing to me is that I know better than this. I know how gas works. I just didn't really realize how quickly gas can pour from a hole just barely larger than a pencil. I'm ashamed to have been so foolish when I know better, but perhaps somebody out there will read this and not duplicate my foolishness. Be careful with propane, folks. And remember... don't worry. I'm just fine.