Monday, July 07, 2008

Crooked fingers

I've got them.

Some kids notice my crooked fingers when I'm telling stories. When I see them noticing, and if there's time and it's appropriate for the show, I tell "The Crooked Little Finger" by Philippa Pearce. At the end of the story, I say, "So just watch out..." and show my little finger. Sometimes I hear gasps. Then I explain, again, that the story is by Philippa Pearce, and that I was born like this. Occasionally there's a kid in the audience who also has crooked fingers.

I was born with crooked fingers on both hands, as were most of my siblings and my father. They don't hurt, they're not arthritic, they're just crooked. My brother Mark has them and is a fine organist. Faith's are even more crooked and they don't prevent her from playing viola. I quite like them.

Here are pictures of the plaster cast I did of my hand in nursery school:
That's a long name for a four-year-old to fit on the plaster.

7 comments:

Lexi said...

Huh, I find this intresting as my family have the same thing, my mum, brother and me all have crooked fingers. They're not painful or anything just crooked. Thanks for sharing I though I was the only one!

Richie said...

Wow,your fingers are just like mine! My pinky's crooked too, like your's! My fingers are crooked. Thanks for sharing this because it made me feel better about mine. I play the flute, and starting the piano! BTW, don't get confused by my nickname. I'm a girl...

Unknown said...

Whew, I feel better now. We notice my 10 year old daughter has a crooked index finger and we were a little concerned. It looks like the pinky but not quite as crooked. One of her big toes has grown with a long curl to it also. She is a great althlete and artist! No slowing her down.

Priscilla Howe said...

I like to think we're a select club. When I used a typewriter in the olden days, I had to turn my hand a little so I'd have the force to press down the letters with my pinky. That's the only time it has been even a tiny bit of a problem.

Anonymous said...

My finger also looks like that...ughh im thinking about surgery I feel like such an outsider. But seeing this kind of mad me feel a bit better not to insecure. Shows that im not the only one. But its werid no one in my family has crooked fingers...

Priscilla Howe said...

I hope you don't go for the surgery--we have very cool fingers! It's not bad to be unusual.

Anonymous said...

Hell yea! Giggidy Giggidy.
Finally I feel normal!
No more NFB!