No, you weren't stupid, just got complacent for a moment as we all have. It sounds as if your dash lights took some current through the chassis when the cannister dead shorted the battery, but, not knowing the wiring of that circuit, I don't know. That the dead short and loss of dash lights took place at the same time I would pull the easiest bulb to get at and see if it's still good; also, look for any burned small diameter wires, though any burn through could have taken place in a harness or connecting block. Any other electrical problems develop such as parking lights, etc?