The Treasured Skillet

By Johanna Sanders

I am a unique cast iron skillet and this is my story. I’m not sure exactly
why or how, but I was thrown away by my first family. I’m guessing it was
because I was missing my handle. I really can’t remember, but I think it was
wooden and probably burned or broke off. I am not much use without a handle.
It makes me very difficult to use. So, I assume this is why my first family
had to let me go and how I ended up being tossed out in the trash. I didn’t
blame them, my days where done. I enjoyed my work with my first family, but
the time had come for me to go.

I have no idea how long I spent at the dump, as I had surrendered to this as
my final destination. I wished it was different, as I loved the feel of the
fire under my cast iron. I loved the smell of the sizzling food I made. Most
of all, I loved knowing I was taking care of my family, doing my part in
making sure their belly’s where full. I was okay, I just missed it all.

So I just sat there, and got tumbled around at the dump -- along with a lot
of other trash. Some salvageable, and some, not so much. See, in those days
people would bring their trash to dump, but they would also hunt around for
treasures. I knew I was broken and probably wouldn’t be noticed. I watched as
many people find some good finds.

My favorite scavenger was a little girl about 5 years old, or so. At first I
couldn’t tell if she was a boy or a girl. She was a filthy, but a happy
little country girl. She wore blue jean overalls and a red and white
checkered shirt. She had paper white hair with a little Dutch-boy haircut.
She climbed up and down that mountain of trash looking for her perfect
treasure. She found it! A Barbie airplane. I had seen that plane around for a
long time and it was a bit beat up. It didn’t matter to her; it was the most
amazing thing she had ever seen! She was hollering with glee to her Daddy to
come see her amazing find!
Her Daddy was a big strapping guy, looked like a cowboy with a big handlebar
mustache, leather belt, metal buckle and cowboy-boots to boot! He came to
over to the little girl and said “Well, what did you find there, Jo?” (That’s
how I found out her name was Jo). She was so excited and jumping around
showing off her “beautiful” airplane! She said, “Daddy, I’m going to go
hunting for a Barbie doll,” and off she went. Her Daddy giggled and thought
she was real cute. He looked down and that’s when his cowboy-boot kicked me,
he started to walk away.

He looked down again and kicked me again; he flipped me over with the toe of
that boot. I thought he was going to walk away for sure when he saw I had no
handle. To my surprise he bent down and picked me up, he smiled, tucked me
under his massive arm, yelled for Jo and we loaded up into his truck.

Jo asked her Daddy “What the heck is that?” She thought her Daddy was totally
out of his mind for thinking he had found a better treasure than she. When we
got home Jo’s Mom thought the same things that Jo did. What a beautiful
airplane and what the heck is the cowboy going to do with that?

Well, the cowboy he went right to work on me and seasoned me up; he clamped
some pliers to me where my handle once was. (I later learned they are called
Vice grips) I thought I looked ridiculous but most of all I was worried that
the cowboy might burn his hand.

That evening I heard the cowboy tell his wife that he would be making dinner!
I realized of course that I would be put to the test that night! I was eager
to cook again! The cowboy mixed a batter and began to cook. He was grilling
pancakes! I knew that smell! However these pancake where different, he called
them “Panakooka”, a Dutch pancake. He made a huge stack of them and I soon
learned why, Jo had a brother, and two sisters! This was a much bigger family
then my last one! I loved it and this family loved those Panakooka!
For the last 40-plus years I have been with the cowboy and his family! I have
made thousands of Panakooka! I have cooked them for breakfast, lunch, dinner,
dessert, Birthday parties, church bazars, sleepovers, holidays, you name it!
It’s my specialty!

So special that yesterday the cowboy taught Jo how to make Panakooka! That
was a very precious time for Jo! Learning that from her Daddy was very
nostalgic. I think I even felt a few tears added to that batter.

That Barbie airplane is long gone but not forgotten. I realized yesterday
that I, the Vice grip handled cast iron skillet, have become a family
heirloom. Today, these 40-some years later I’m on an airplane flying home
with Jo to continue my specialty! As it turns out I am her true treasure!