The turkey had been roasting for about forty-five minutes when we heard the POP! At first we thought juices had spattered, but then the oven timer went off.
I hadn’t set the timer.
When I got to the oven, a bright green “F1” was flashing where the temperature setting should have read 325 degrees. Uh-oh.
I tried to open the oven door. It would not budge. Locked. Tight.
My twenty pound turkey was stuck in the oven. Thirty people would be arriving for a Christmas feast in just a few hours.
“Go turn off the breaker,” I said to my husband. “Maybe it will reset itself and the door will open.” Meanwhile, I was mentally scanning my neighbor’s kitchens. Who was likely to be home, not needing their oven a week and a half before Christmas?
“Did that work?” my husband called from the basement.
“Yes! The door’s open!” I hollered back as I dialed the neighbor most likely to have an empty oven. “Hi, Jean? I need a huge favor.”
Fifteen minutes later, my turkey was safely tucked into Jean’s oven. But I still had mashed potatoes, butternut squash, and broccoli to worry about.
“Well, we were going to get a new oven soon anyway,” my husband reasoned. “I’ll just go buy one today.”
Within the hour, my well-used, trusted oven was on its way to the great appliance graveyard.
Within three hours, our new oven was settled into its new home, gleaming brightly.
Four hours after that ominous pop, the turkey finished roasting in our new oven, the potatoes were mashed, and the squash was boiling. When our first guests arrived, everything was under control. They only reason anyone knew anything had gone wrong was because we told them.
At school, we help students to put their problems in perspective, categorizing them as bummers, glitches, or catastrophes. Thanks to a good neighbor and a handy husband, what at first felt like a catastrophe turned out to be only a glitch. Dinner was on the table a bit later than originally planned, but otherwise, our Christmas celebration with my husband’s family went off without a hitch. It was a miracle!
Wishing you all a glitch-free holiday! Thank you to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Kelsey, Melanie, and Lanny for creating this community and providing this space for teachers and others to share their stories every Tuesday. Be sure to visit Two Writing Teachers to read more Slice of Life posts.
Reading to the Core 
You have great perspective about this glitch, Catherine. Delighted your celebration went well!
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Christmas miracle indeed! You have a well-oiled team that handled a potential melt down with ease and grace and no one was the wiser!!!
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The first thing that comes to mind is “Keep calm and carry on.” I love the non-defeatist attitude and the reminder of perspective with students. Temporary setbacks are overcome with time and helping one another. Problem-solving at its finest (congrats on the new oven!).
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Sounds like you and your family handled this near crisis with grace and ease. May the remainder of the holidays be stress free!
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You could have had a catastrophe but chose to move toward a solution rather than linger and bemoan the situation. I love how everything feel into place with some determination and generosity. I’m sure your delayed feast was even tastier, knowing how precarious its very existence had been earlier in the day! Happy Holidays!
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Oh my! I am amazed you could turn what appeared as a catastrophe into a glitch that quickly. Your husband and neighbor saved the day. I hope you were able to relax and enjoy.
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Not sure I could have seen this as a glitch. Thanks for the inspiring story. I’m hosting my largest dinner ever this year – 12 on Christmas Eve and am starting to feel anxious. I’ll keep your story in mind. Merry Christmas, my blogging/TCRWP/twitter friend!
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I’m so impressed that you thought to have hubby turn off the breaker. Good thinking and great save. Kudos to hubby, you, and your neighbor!
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Love that your slice had a happy ending . . . a Christmas gift in itself! Happy Holidays, Catherine! ❤
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Potential disaster become great story. This will be one you will be telling for years to come. I also agree that you were brilliant to know to turn off the breaker.
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What a great story. And a super example of problem solving. Giving students perspective on problems is so important. Some of them have little problems, and some of them face huge, intimidating problems. But perspective, friends, and problem solving efforts can help at least make the problems more bearable.
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This reminds me of a recent Thanksgiving at my friend’s place where her oven when on the fritz. Again, a generous neighbour helped save dinner. I think you might enjoy this post of mine about a glitch I experienced during Midnight Mass at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris: http://www.labeillefrancaise.net/paris-notre-dame-christmas-eve/
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