Wednesday, April 04, 2007

A "sinister" curse?

I'm left handed -- a sinistral, if you will. Yes, the English word "sinister" derives from the Latin word for left....

Because I was left handed, I flunked scissoring in kindergarten. I have since largely recovered from this academic setback.

And I have since learned helpful slogans -- like, "only lefties are in their right minds" -- that I can spout at will and thereby boost my self-esteem.

But there are mornings, like this one, where I am reminded of the difference between us lefties and everyone else.

It was cold in Chicago this morning, and I broke out the heavy down jacket. With the zipper.

I've always had a hard time with jacket zippers, especially those double ones, like the one on this jacket, that zip up to the top and zip open from the bottom... sometimes I just can't get them started... like this morning....

I think that's because I'm left handed. Or am I just that uncoordinated?

16 comments:

sari said...

Yay, Lefties!

I always have a problem with getting ink all over my hand when I write.

I think I have a bit of a benefit over a lot of lefties, however, because I play piano and that taught me better control with my right hand.

But, I can only use a computer mouse with my right hand. Weird.

cmhl said...

my daughter is a lefty,a nd she already (age 5) has learned the art of smearing the ink all over her hand. hahaha.

Dave said...

I'm trying to picture the zipper thing; but, I'm not quite getting it.

In high school I dislocated my right elbow at a time when a friend and I played ping pong every day. To play, I picked up the paddle with my left hand, and even today (well, six or seven years ago) I play with my left hand.

Came to you by way of Bob Johnson. Enjoyed the posts.

Linda said...

I never realized that zippers were an issue for lefties but I guess now that I think about it, it makes sense that it might be.

I, personally, have not been in my right mind for a very long time and it has nothing to do with my dominant hand!

The Curmudgeon said...

Oh, yeah, the ink thing. Thanks for reminding me cmhl: Ink on my shirt cuffs -- especially when the nuns had us use cartridge pens. And magic marker and crayons... on the left hand...

And Sari -- what choice did we have on mouses? Mr. Gates decided and we were obliged to conform.

Where fibers meet mud said...

I have several friends who have gone ahead and made the mouse left hand oriented - surely keeps everyone else off their computers. Now laptops - they are equal opportunity employers. Off to seize the day with both hands in actions!

landgirl said...

Neither. The zipper is inherently unstable. That's an easy one.

Empress Bee (of the high sea) said...

sarge is a leftie. one thing i never understood, when you enter a restaurant why do lefties always announce they are left handed? we've been married 39 years, i know he is left handed. his mother did the same thing. why is that curmie?

smiles, bee

susan said...

Can't weigh in on the manual orientation issue (how PC am I?!), but I will admit to having a certain amount of zipper-related frustration myself. Might be related to some childhood trauma (who hasn't experienced the mind-numbing pain of having their chin/belly/other-more-sensitive-places tighltly pinched in those sinister teeth?)... let's just say I've never been inclined to zip quickly. And for some reason, the slower I zip, the more likely I am to get stuck on a bit of sweater, glove, or whatever.

Buttons, now that's the way to go.

Shelby said...

I too, did not know of the zipper issue for lefties. Now I know!! I'm shocked, shocked I say.

kidding. No really, I didn't know.

I'll be darn.

The Curmudgeon said...

Bee -- I can answer this! It comes from people complaining when a leftie sits next to them while eating. I have always been an equal opportunity eater, face in the trough if necessary, so this hasn't been that great an issue for me -- but I've surely seen it.

Susan -- I'm cringing again....

Sharon -- it's the zipper and not me? But my wife gets frustrated with me and zips me up (yes, like she would do to a toddler....) She never has this problem....

sari said...

A lot of times my family won't move to let me sit on the left because SOMEONE has to sit by SOMEONE else (it always changes) so I just whack them with my elbow anyway.

Serves them right, ha ha.

Barb said...

My oldest son is a leftie, too.. and he has problems with all sorts of products.

Smalltown RN said...

Hey Curmudge...I am a south paw as well.....you know what I don't like.....is using sissors...I always had a problem with cut and paste....and potato peelers...

But hey aren't we creative...

SQT said...

My husband is a lefty too. I totally get the announcing you're a lefty at dinner thing, otherwise you bang elbows while trying to eat. I always appreciate that my husband is aware of that.

Anonymous said...

This explains everything.

My wife is a lefty, I tell her its the mark of satan.