Girlfriend inadvertantly shocks grandparents

I get awkward around grandparents. Especially when they aren't mine.

My acquaintance of the manly sort brought me to his hometown this weekend in order to hang with his fam. But inevitably, something always happens between his two complete sets of grandparents and me that is notable. Here is this visit's adventure:

It usually starts with that inching toward the door, are-we-going-to-hug-or-aren't-we moment. Of course they're going to hug their grandson. But are they expecting me to go in for the girlfriend-we-don't-know-that-well embrace? Turns out, they were.

But let's step back a moment. I need to mention that the Northern Minnesota town we were in is extremely dry and freezing right now. I tried not to touch anyone during the weekend because I don't seem to do too well in dry atmospheres in the area of...not shocking people.

Fast forward. The grandma is giving me the dead-lock eyes look that means she's ready to encircle me in her cuddly arms. I lean in, it goes off without a hitch, then her hand accidentally grazes my jeaned buttock and my buttock gives off a small, electric shock. But I don't think she noticed. What I don't know is...how the grandpa couldn't have noticed what came next.

Gramps looked me in the eyes, cocked his head slightly to the left, and opened his arms. I went left to counter his mirrored left, and our ears grazed which resulted in me giving him a piercing, almost audible ear-shock.

Being the gent he is, he slowly backed away and smiled in that oblivious, always-happy grandpa way. I'm just hoping I didn't inflict any permanent damage on those sweet sweeties.