Going Left Handed Till My Brain Adapts

            I don’t know how I managed to torture my right thumb to the point of excruciating pain and an inability to lift the lightest of objects without breaking out into a sweat. Yet, somehow, I did. Add a bit of carpal tunnel to the mixture and I’m about to go under the knife this week for what is known as “carpometacarpal surgery.” 

            It’s more gruesome than regular carpal tunnel surgery. In fact, it looks downright medieval. I know. I started to watch the UTube video before feeling faint. That surprised me, since I sat through the entire UTube video of a shoulder replacement when my husband had that surgery two years ago. But this was different. This is my thumb and the blood would be mine, not his. 

            To prepare for weeks in a splint/cast and physical therapy for the hand, I needed to whip my left hand in shape. After all, I spend hours writing, not to mention every other activity that I take for granted. I can honestly say that I have the utmost respect and admiration for those people who work under handicapping conditions on a daily basis. It’s beyond challenging. So far, this is what I can do:

·         Drive left handed except for starting the car. Why Oh Why didn’t I buy one of those cars with automatic starters that do not require keys?  Oh yeah, the price tag.

·         Empty the dishwasher.  I don’t expect to be using it though, since I have no intention of cooking and neither does my husband. The local restaurants will be thrilled. 

·         Dust and vacuum. With all the cats and the dog, I would have gone broke hiring a cleaning person. 

·         Brush my teeth with the electric toothbrush. Unfortunately, they do not make an electric flosser so my dentist will probably enjoy another cruise to the Caribbean on my tab.

·         Type with my left hand. The only problem is that the letters have worn off of my keyboard and my brain types automatically. Now, I have to look and guess. So, please don’t expect many blogs for a while. 

·         Use my mobile devices. This just requires talking and a bit of tapping. I gave up on text messages a long time ago. Oh, I can still work the TV remote like no one’s business so my husband will still have to fight for it!

·         Get Dressed. Here in Arizona, that means tossing on shorts and a top. If I were still back in upstate New York, I’d be hours putting on those layers of clothing. Good thing it will be in the nineties and low hundreds for the next month.

I’m not thinking about what I can’t do, because that will only drive me crazy. One thing is certain – I’ll have lots of time to plot my next novel for Time Travel Mysteries! You didn’t think I was going to give my publisher a rest, did you? 

Now I just hope I don’t destroy my left hand!