Something that really bugs me...

This evening I was doing the dinner dishes and talking with my son Austin while he made some brownies. His arm got tired while he was stirring the batter and I suggested that he switch hands. He couldn't quite get the coordination down, then he said something that I had never really thought much about. "Dad, I wish I was left-handed like you!" "Huh???? No you don't son."

Then it got to me - it really stinks being left-handed sometimes. Let me just say, for the record - I am more ambi-dextrous than some lefties I know. For instance, I play guitar right-handed, drum right-handed, etc... (Those who know me will attest that I eat with both hands too!) But, there are lots of things most people take for granted that we lefties have to make up for. Here are a few you may never have thought about.

• Scissors (O.K., maybe you've thought of this one...Fortunately, I can cut both ways.)


• Coffee mugs - before you laugh at this one - look at the cute little kitten picture on your mug - if you hold it by the handle, it faces the right way - hold it left-handed and nobody else can see it!


• Notebooks/Planners/Calendars - There are a bunch of great big rings in the way that prevent you from writing legibly - leading to the "myth" that left-handers are sloppy. (That being said - I am a sloppy writer without the big rings in the way, but that's a story for another day.)


• Measuring cups and some evil lemonade pitchers - Pick it up with the left hand and you can't pour it - you have to put it down and pick it up with the "right" hand to pour. I prefer pitchers with the spout oposite the handle as opposed to the "evil" pitchers with a spout on the side.


• Evil bent butter knives - you laugh, but I have the cutest little evil butter knife in my drawer that I can't use because it is bent a certain way, and as you know, only one side is sharp. So, I have to butter my toast with my "right" hand - yes, it must be an evil plot to keep us left-handers down.

That's just a few, but next time you are in a sporting goods store, try finding a good assortment of left-handed mits - or better yet - raquetball gloves! (In the right size).