They say that at our age, we think we're invincible. Nothing can happen to us. We eat all kinds of crap, drink large quantities of alcohol, and go without sleep for days, and bounce right back again with no ill effects.

Even if we break a leg, say, after a few weeks on crutches we're back to normal.

It never even occurs to us, in our youthful naivete, that we might eventually reach a point where any one of these things could have a long-term effect on our health, something that could stick with us for the rest of our lives.

One could make a case that this is, on balance, positive and even necessary. Without the reckless exuberance of youth, one might suggest, there would be no great risk-takers, no action heroes, no wild innovations. No Napster, yet. This is not what I am here to debate.

I propose a counter-example to this illusion of invulnerability: the burnt tongue.

To the ever-resilient youth, it comes as quite a shock that something so minor as an o'er-hasty sip of hot chocolate, or an impatient spoonful of soup, could leave one's tastebuds virtually deadened for a full three days. It brings fear to our hearts, the shadow of the fragility of our future years.

Please, dear reader, I implore you: be careful when partaking of your hot beverage or food.