Lessons Learned

Having grown up in New England, I always knew that when you go outside in the winter you do not touch your tongue to anything frozen, especially metal. I'm not sure why you would want to lick a water pump handle or a flagpole, but it has been done.

Fortunately, I live in South Carolina now so I don't have to worry about those sub zero winters. Of course I don't have to worry about getting my tongue stuck on cold metal. Right?

Well, I learned something new last week. An ice cream scoop that still has some ice cream on it can cause the same reaction to a wet tongue that a frozen flagpole can. I also learned that you should obey your common sense and use hot water to get your tongue off and not assume that it will only hurt for a minute when you yank it off.

Actually, if you yank it off, it will take a small chunk of tissue with it. I have licked off thousands of ice creams scoops and never gotten stuck before; but this time was different. I got it stuck on my tongue and the back of my upper lip; if you put your finger on the inside of your upper lip and feel around for the most sensitive spot, you've got exactly where it stuck. After I ripped the spoon out, my tongue escaped unscathed but my lip was not so fortunate. After the pain subsided, I sat down to eat my ice cream and noticed the taste of blood in my mouth.

Needless to say, I have learned my lesson. My mouth is still very sensitive when I eat, four days later, especially when I eat salty food (or say, the vinegar in Italian dressing at a particular wedding reception!).