Good prompt. Good post. I think I need to write my own essay. Forced right hander. Big hands. I love my hands now but not always. Best with the pending surgery and recovery.
I always liked my hands and still do but have had work-related osteoarthritis since my late twenties. Now that I am, um, somewhat older, the arthritis is starting to be more visible with little bumps and some swelling which I do not enjoy. I am trying to take better care of my hands with moisturizer and hand stretching exercises which do help. This is an excellent prompt.
Your own artistic hands are still beautiful - and here's hoping for the ideal surgery result too xo
Thank you Sue... haha yes ..the "somewhat older" part has become the main narrative at this point, and truth be told, it's offering plenty of creative fodder, don't you think? Sorry about the osteoarthritis-- it's one of our commonalities. It is lovely to be in touch with you! How I wish I could take a trip to Canada. Actually, I would jump at the chance to move there. My niece lives in BC, in the Okanagan area, and my sister and her husband are considering leaving Colorado to move there. Sigh. I loved your recent piece and will comment soon... xox
Hands are so important and such markers of our journey through life. I had beautiful hands once - long fingers, the right shaped nails, manicured. Now I have hand wrinkles, sun-spots, age-spots, freckles, blue veins, arthritic knobs and scars everywhere from training pups and a love of gardening - my life...
I’m in that same boat with you, Karen. Recuperating from carpal tunnel surgery. I realize that until I fell and broke my wrist and did some other damage, I always assumed I could rely on my body to do what I want it to do.
I know that I now have to do what my body is asking. If I listen and pay attention, which is hard when I’m used to taking it all for granted.
Good luck with your surgery. You’re one strong woman.
Ouch! I'm sorry you are having pain and need to have another surgery. Fingers crossed that it goes smoothly and you heal quickly! I completely understand what you write about our hands being the lifeline to our creative self. As a Deaf person, my hands are critical for connection to the world - so I complete understand needing our hands for survival.
While you are recovering, have you considered using a speech-to-text app or tool so then you can limit your one-hand typing to minor editing?
I have a shoulder injury that has been nagging me for almost a year and am scheduled for an MRI. I am guilty of taking my body for granted until it starts telling me that I need to pay attention to it as well!
Oh no, Karen! I'm sorry to hear about your upcoming surgery. My wrists are what plague me. They've always been weak, and now they are hollering. I guess I need to get checked. This aging stuff ain't for the weak!
I am so sorry to hear about the cubital tunnel surgery. I had the carpel tunnel in Dec and Jan, along with cortisone shots in my sad thumbs. Just went back to the hand doc for another round of shots and mentioned the palmar pain. It's from scar tissue so I'll start hand therapy to help with that. I told the doc I need these hands for another 20-30 years! At age 72 that sounds optimistic, but he said, "That's the plan!" I can't imagine not being able to use them as I get older. Best of luck to you in your surgery and recovery. We have a lot of art and writing to do!
Good prompt. Good post. I think I need to write my own essay. Forced right hander. Big hands. I love my hands now but not always. Best with the pending surgery and recovery.
I always liked my hands and still do but have had work-related osteoarthritis since my late twenties. Now that I am, um, somewhat older, the arthritis is starting to be more visible with little bumps and some swelling which I do not enjoy. I am trying to take better care of my hands with moisturizer and hand stretching exercises which do help. This is an excellent prompt.
Your own artistic hands are still beautiful - and here's hoping for the ideal surgery result too xo
Thank you Sue... haha yes ..the "somewhat older" part has become the main narrative at this point, and truth be told, it's offering plenty of creative fodder, don't you think? Sorry about the osteoarthritis-- it's one of our commonalities. It is lovely to be in touch with you! How I wish I could take a trip to Canada. Actually, I would jump at the chance to move there. My niece lives in BC, in the Okanagan area, and my sister and her husband are considering leaving Colorado to move there. Sigh. I loved your recent piece and will comment soon... xox
Praying your surgery brings relief and keeps your hands in good condition for many more years!
Thank you so much PJ... I think of you often, and hope that your own healing journey is going well and strong..! xox
Wishing you the absolute best for your surgery.
Hands are so important and such markers of our journey through life. I had beautiful hands once - long fingers, the right shaped nails, manicured. Now I have hand wrinkles, sun-spots, age-spots, freckles, blue veins, arthritic knobs and scars everywhere from training pups and a love of gardening - my life...
Thanks Prue. A life well-lived brings beautiful hands in a different form, for sure … we are fortunate.
I’m in that same boat with you, Karen. Recuperating from carpal tunnel surgery. I realize that until I fell and broke my wrist and did some other damage, I always assumed I could rely on my body to do what I want it to do.
I know that I now have to do what my body is asking. If I listen and pay attention, which is hard when I’m used to taking it all for granted.
Good luck with your surgery. You’re one strong woman.
Thanks Margie… good luck with the healing !
Ouch! I'm sorry you are having pain and need to have another surgery. Fingers crossed that it goes smoothly and you heal quickly! I completely understand what you write about our hands being the lifeline to our creative self. As a Deaf person, my hands are critical for connection to the world - so I complete understand needing our hands for survival.
While you are recovering, have you considered using a speech-to-text app or tool so then you can limit your one-hand typing to minor editing?
I have a shoulder injury that has been nagging me for almost a year and am scheduled for an MRI. I am guilty of taking my body for granted until it starts telling me that I need to pay attention to it as well!
Thanks Molly— I’ll have to look into speech to text tools. Hadn’t thought of that.
Best of luck with your shoulder !
Oh no, Karen! I'm sorry to hear about your upcoming surgery. My wrists are what plague me. They've always been weak, and now they are hollering. I guess I need to get checked. This aging stuff ain't for the weak!
Thanks Ilona … yep, aging challenges do take center stage these days. Good luck w the wrists …
I am so sorry to hear about the cubital tunnel surgery. I had the carpel tunnel in Dec and Jan, along with cortisone shots in my sad thumbs. Just went back to the hand doc for another round of shots and mentioned the palmar pain. It's from scar tissue so I'll start hand therapy to help with that. I told the doc I need these hands for another 20-30 years! At age 72 that sounds optimistic, but he said, "That's the plan!" I can't imagine not being able to use them as I get older. Best of luck to you in your surgery and recovery. We have a lot of art and writing to do!
Thank you Lesley! Good luck with it all. We do indeed have a lot of art and writing to do, and I’m so grateful I can do it ..!