PeaceandJoy, it scared the living daylights out if me. It didn't scare me so much that I stopped canning, but it taught me to pay more attention to safety. That year I canned 36 quarts of tomatoes, applesauce, 2 varieties of chow chow, 36 pints of green beans, pickles, concord grape jam, Apple pie filling, and more, so you'd think I would know better than to get my face too close to the pot. Natural consequences is always the best teacher.