Not Left Handed

Gram Appleby was ambidextrous. I remember her straddling a row of strawberry plants and picking with both hands flying as she walked along at a pretty good clip. She could fill a flat quicker than a rabbit could scoot. Even on my best picking days, I couldn't come close to matching her prowess.

Lately, the ladies who ring in the chime choir are struggling with handedness. Some prefer the smaller chimes because their left hands are not strong enough to support the heavier chimes. Some insist on ringing the right hand chime when the music calls for their left hand chime. It gets downright humorous when you keep hearing, "shoot" "shoot" "o darn" repeatedly!

I have always been strongly right handed. In grade school when we practiced writing with our left hands, my chicken scrawl would be nearly illegible. Left hand was my weak hand when it came to practicing the piano. I could knock off the treble clef melodies and runs just fine, but my left hand was always struggling to keep up, to voice properly, and trills? Forget it!

Hence my surprise to learn how much I actually *do* with my left hand. I open doors with my left hand. I sling my purse over my left shoulder. Can't button buttons without my left hand. When I stoop to pick up something from the floor - left hand. When did I become so left-handed?

What does it matter anyway? Only that with the pinched nerve and my aching left arm, it would be better if I did things with my right hand and gave the left a rest. But instinctively, I reach with my left, feel the jab, and *then* remember that I should have reached with my right. I figure I will just about get it when my arm will be better.

Makes me wonder how many other things in my life I am running on instinct, even when my behavior causes pain. Perhaps I should take a look! Maybe you can teach an old dog a new trick. It just takes a little longer and a more painful incentive.

Pinched Nerve

I have a bulging disk in my neck that flares up from time to time. Ever since the biopsy, where I spent hours on the table with my head turned to the left while they battered away on my neck's right side, I have been having twinges of pain. Today, it flared to a loud roar, shooting pain down my left arm and making more of my hand numb ( my index finger and thumb are always that way, even after extensive physical therapy).

To make matters worse, I ended up having to complete a large invitation printing/folding/labeling job that turned out to be double the number we thought, and that exacerbated the whole issue. I knew I had to conduct choir, but for the life of me, I couldn't figure out how I would survive. Those of you who have experienced pinched nerves will know just what I mean.

And after that, Drew was counting on going grocery shopping because of payday and the empty larder. Keep going. You can't stop. Figure out what will get you through and just do it. OK. Ice, anti inflammatories, laying down for a bit. And PRAYER! Dear God, make this pain go away!

How amazing that choir practice went well in spite of my lack of energy. Once the music started, I was completely and blissfully unaware of the pain. The relief lasted long enough to complete the shopping trip. Then I could go home and rest. I made Drew carry the groceries in.

I settled into a comfy chair, put my arm over my head, hoping for a decent night's rest. Tomorrow, I will find a chiropractor and see about getting this under control. Shoot, if it's not one thing, its another.