Opposable Thumbs

This sounds petty, but I have a sore thumb. It is warm and swollen and looks like it might be an infected cuticle. I don’t know if those things crop up spontaneously or not, but I haven’t messed with my nails lately so I didn’t do it. Last night when I was trying to sleep I could feel my pulse beating in my thumb. I am very right handed and the sore is on my left, yet it hampers my activities more than you can imagine.

Before I went to bed I put some Neosporin around the edge of my nail even though I could see no open wound that might be causing the trouble. I decided to wrap it so the medicine would soak in the skin and not end up on the sheets. Using my right-hand’s pincer grasp, four fingers on my left hand, my teeth and the edge of the lavatory, I was finally able to extricate the Band-Aid from the wrapper.

This morning, I had difficulty doing my hair, since I normally use my left index finger and thumb to support the curling iron and keep it from searing my scalp. Donning pantyhose was a challenge beyond my capabilities.

Yesterday evening at play rehearsal (did I say I’m in The Women at Center On the Square? More information here: www.centeronthesquare.org) the wounded digit kept getting in my way. In one scene, I play the seamstress/fitter and I help the leading lady get out of a dress that has about 20 buttons. Try doing that without opposable thumbs.