I can't remember the reason why I decided to prepare two completely separate dinners that night, but I was having one of those "I am woman" moments and decided it was doable. Alan and the boys were out picking up the flags from the latest patriotic holiday the scouts are required to post flags for, and Sarah was playing outside with her friends. I was in the zone. Chopping and cooking, sauteing and steaming. I don't remember even remotely what I was making. I suppose the trauma blocked all of that. All I remember is my favorite knife for chopping onions was dirty. So, rather than wash it, I pulled out the giant chef's knife I rarely use and went at the onion with chef like speed. Julia Child would have been thrilled to see me fly through that onion. I have been practicing and am developing a feel for the rhythm.
I was so into the chopping, I failed to notice exactly what I had chopped that evening until I began scooping up the onions for the pot and noticed clearly, the tip of my finger laying on the cutting board! I am sorry, I know that is graphic, but there it was. Plain as day and mocking me for my chopping arrogance. The blood came quickly after my brain realized what my knife had done to my finger.
I have cut my fingers before and it has hurt, but this was epic! My middle finger had a distinctive flat side where the tip use to be. I had the presence of mind to remove the non-onion part of my recipe and grabbed a paper towel and applied pressure. At this point you would have thought I should stop cooking, but I didn't. I continued with my injured hand gripping a paper towel and raised above my head (to slow the bleeding of course) and my other hand continuing to cook. I wasn't going to let all of my hard work go to waste!
Sarah had come in from playing by now and was confused as to why my arm was raised over my head. "What are you doing Mom?", she says. "I cut myself, again." The immediate look of recognition washes over her face and she asks me if I need help. A sous chef! Yes, I needed help. Sarah was a champ and helped me finish cooking dinner. The bleeding of course didn't improve with my first aid efforts and I started to get worried I had really done serious damage this time. There are several nurses on my street and I wondered which of them I could call to assist me.
The embarrassment because of my stupidity took priority over my gushing finger and I refused to call anyone, let alone go to the urgent care. I know how to handle this. Cayenne Pepper stops bleeding! I begin to search for the Cayenne and can't find it anywhere. My plan is foiled. How can I be out of the giant Costco container I have had for years! I am going to have to tell someone about this. I can't leave my dinner to go to the store because it isn't quite finished. And, the bloody stump at the end of my arm might alarm the Walmart people. I can't leave Sarah in charge of finishing dinner; she's eight. I have to call Alan and confess to him what I did. Telling Alan about my injuries is worse than getting sent to the principals office. He has has too many calls from friends about me at the emergency room. He never knows what is around the corner with me. Or, how much it may cost us.
So, after a very matter of fact phone call assuring him it is nothing, Alan arrives home with a container of Cayenne Pepper. The bleeding has been steady for about 30 minutes so I was getting desperate for it to stop. After pouring the pepper into a small bowl, I dunk my finger into the without even thinking. The tip of the human finger has some pretty powerful nerve endings. When they are exposed just to air it is painful. When Cayenne Pepper is applied to the exposed nerve endings... insert expletive here. I have experienced all different kinds of pain and this ranks second after my kidney stone with child birth a distant third.
My heart rate exploded and I had to leave the presence of my family. The pain knocked the breath right out of my lungs. Crying seemed appropriate, but the only noise that escaped my body was something like the yelp dogs make when you accidentally step on them. I am pretty sure I was in shock but happily, the weather was still fairly cold outside and it seemed to help with the pain. I proceeded to pace around my house for 20 minutes or more waiting for the pulsating pain to subside. My neighbors have been considering my sanity and I am sure this episode helped them realize I am nuts but committed to my work.
Cayenne Pepper is a miracle. The bleeding stopped immediately and my finger healed up rather quickly. I really am so cheap that I would put myself through all of this rather than pay a doctor. Home remedy's do work, they just require effort. It has been several months and the tip of my finger is still tender. Our bodies are amazing and the layers of skin grew back so I don't have a weird, flat looking fingertip. And, dinner was fantastic!
