When I broke the thumb on my right hand, it was more than just an awful experience. I had to manage my life for a month without use of that hand, including teaching. Realize that for 6 hours a day I wrote problems on the chalkboard, then prepared and copied hand written worksheets. When I say I had no use of my right hand, I mean that I had a screw protruding from my thumb rubbing against the cast, so there was no level of touch or movement of that thumb that was acceptable. I did not have use of a computer, especially not one with the proper math symbols.

Interestingly, I could write on the chalkboard with my left hand in fairly nice print. Some said it was better than with my right hand, but it took twice the time and required concentration as I was prone to write letters dackwarbs. (Intentional slip there).

Our agility is much better when it comes to macro motions, or large movements. The micro motions required for pleasant reading of single spaced writing on paper is much more difficult, and few can duplicate their writing using either hand. So I wrote a couple of quizzes on the board, I dictated problems, and others were written by students.

See, I learned a lesson from George T. about how people perceive communications that are, let’s say, blatantly unusual.

I could not help from spinning around while at my desk after hearing my boss state in a harsh tone, “George, what’s this?” I had to see it to believe it as was typical when it came to George.

My boss held a sheet of paper which I could read from across the room (more than 30 feet) because the letters were almost 2 inches high. I was horrified to see that it was a routing which had been sent to the floor providing the workers instructions for making the designated part. When George stated the obvious, that it was indeed a routing, I knew my boss was furious at the response.

“I know it’s a routing, George,” he replied with dripping sarcasm, “but why are the letters so big?”

In a plain voice, George said, “Because I wrote it with my left hand.”

I swear that I could see the steam coming out from my boss’s ears. As his lips tightened, he almost growled, “Okay George, why did you write with your left hand?”

George’s honest reply was completely unexpected. He held up his right hand displaying a band aide wrapped around the tip of his index finger.

He wined, “Because I had a cut on my finger.”

I learned a lot from George T., though none of the things which I was expecting to learn. Besides learning the importance of using the knowledge I obtained though my schooling to avoid disasters, I learned how not to do things, and in this case, how take into consideration how others will react to my adjustments for adversity. You can read more in my previous entries called Learn by not doing, Little Boat, Whale of a Fish, https://docdavedewitt.com/?p=2034

By the way, I also learned that I was pronouncing the title of this blog incorrectly by adding an i before the ous.

Don’t stop learning.

Hope you have a Happy Friday.