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But now I'm a villain, I'm a killer, a dying light
I just had my hand dipped in paraffin for a therapeutic procedure and it was so cool. After four immersions in the bracingly hot, clear, slightly soft liquid which reminded me of candle-making in elementary school, it formed a dully livid, slowly malleable coating in which I could see instantly the possibilities of practical effects, although what I actually said as I carefully brought my mannequin hand over to the table where it would be wrapped in plastic and insulated with a towel was, "It's fascinating. I must be quite flammable." The heat lingered much longer in the paraffin than I had expected from the quick-hardening dots and puddles of candlewax and cooled to room temperature without brittling. It had to be rubbed through to be removed. Tragically it did not peel off like a glove into an inverted ghost hand, but it could actually be worked off my wrist and fingers in a coherent thick wrinkle and took none of the small hairs off the back of my hand with it, like its own Vaseline layer. "Your skin is going to be so moisturized," the therapist promised me. I am still getting a referral to a hand specialist, but it was such a neat experience and like nothing I have experienced at a doctor's. It did not trip my sensory wires and made me think of Colin Clive in Mad Love (1935).
Ahhhhh.
The paraffin bath is such a luxurious feeling! The scent took me back to the days of manual paste up, enabled by the cozy electric waxer. A pal had a home edition which meant she had the softest possible hands.
Re: Ahhhhh.
I'd had no idea it was even a treatment! All my previous experience of heat as part of physical therapy had been hot packs. Now I can feel like part of a layout.
Re: Ahhhhh.
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... Are you familiar with Giambattista Basile's tale of the Flayed Old Lady?
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Fortunately I have no sister.
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I understand that, although a little ironically because I am not especially great at letting someone else even professionally take care of me. I am working on it.
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I think your extremities would appreciate it. And I had no allergic reaction, which is always a plus.
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Nine
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That occurred to me! If the paraffin had come off as an inverted hand, it would have made a perfect one.
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I kept looking at the way it contoured and glossed the bones and tendons and thinking I could paint or sculpt them . . .
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I hope it (and, you know, the hand specialist) help, but either way, what a delightful experience. Your description reminded me of candle-making in elementary school too, even before you said so.
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Thank you! Sadly it does not seem to come in different colors when employed medically.
(And thank you. I have to call the hand specialist tomorrow and also my endocrinologist's office who are once again proving elusive, whee.)
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It had never occurred to me! It actually did feel great. The heat storage was amazing.
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It was not what I expected my afternoon to contain! I appreciate the surprise.
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(OMG Mad Love referenced)
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It honestly was!
(OMG Mad Love referenced)
You should read
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Gonna check the poem out :D
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(It reminds me of the renfaire I worked at for a season, where I helped kids dip candles. Else-faire, you could dip your hands into rainbows of wax to make cool wax hands to put on your shelf. We had to be very clear at our booth that our wax was RATHER MUCH HOTTER and you should absolutely not dip your hand within it. We'd dip roses though, I think my bestie still has a wax rose from her time there.)
~Sor
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It was the best way to get the tightened tendons to let go and be worked, too. Enjoy!
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