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Thursday, September 25, 2008

On Being Left-handed

Someone made this offhand comment in a meeting this morning - "This is starting out to be a real left-handed day."

I know that they meant the day was turned around, starting off in the wrong direction... but it got me thinking. You see, I am left-handed and generally don't consider myself "in the wrong direction" (though don't ask The Girl or The Boy - their opinons can't be trusted about this.)

It is commonly observed that while hoofer Fred Astaire received most of the attention and fame, his partner Ginger Rogers was doing everything he was doing, only she was doing it backwards and in high heels. Not a bad observation to begin a description of the situation for left-handers and ambidextrals.

I looked up the definition of left-handed:
1. Having the left hand or arm stronger and more dexterous than the right; using
the left hand and arm with more dexterity than the right.
2. Clumsy; awkward; unlucky; insincere; sinister; malicious; as, a left-handed compliment.

I love it - sinister! Malicious and unlucky!

Mostly being left-handed just has its annoyances. And it is little things, things that you would never notice unless you are a lefty. Things like ladles for punch, soup, gravy, etc. all pour from the "wrong" side; writing in a three-ring binder requires a lot of arm-twisting and contortion; right-handed desk/chair combos are painful; can openers are right-handed; sporting goods like gloves, etc. require us lefties to buy a "special" version....

Teaching lefties can be as easy as you want to make it. In first grade, the 2 lefties in my class were made to sit in a separate area, use special pencils and sit in assigned seats for lunch (so we wouldn't bump into the right-handers with our elbows). I suspect that doesn't happen much now - when I was in first grade my teacher was already ancient. Hopefully most teachers have a different view these days.

On the other side... My mom is right handed. When I was a young girl, she taught me to knit and crochet using a big mirror in her bedroom. We would sit side my side on her bed and I would copy her image in the mirror. It worked too - I can still knit and crochet, and I still have such wonderful memories of learning how.

There are even some advantages to being left-handed. I took up fencing when I was in law school. I was never great, but it is a wonderful release of energy, both physical and mental - kind of like aerobic chess. The best part was that, since most people are right-handed, they don't fight many left-handers and consequently don't know how to fight against a left-hander. That meant that I could beat people who were much better than I was! Always a nice ego boost.

Also, if I want, I can win at those baby or bridal shower type games that require you to do some task (like spoon cotton balls from one bowl to another) using your left hand. ;-)



OK, I'll step off the soap box for now. Just don't get me started on "Lazy Susans"!

Zentmrs Pin It

3 comments:

  1. I always felt bad for people who are lefthanded.

    They always seem to get shafted.

    Although I did see a left-hander's planner at Border's last week. It opened the opposite way.

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  2. I love being left handed. I always like being different from everyone else.. I did have a few teachers that got mad when I tilted my papers or when I bumped someone sitting next to me.. but I didn't mind.. I was different. Unique.

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  3. Being left handed is like being the popular girl! No one can attain our status! HAHAHA!

    Lefty POWER!

    ReplyDelete