When I was 5 years old and my sister Berenice was 8, we were playing in the yard and decided we should cut the grass- we were trying to keep ourselves amused, after all! There were no ipads, video games, or even regular tv programming, so we spent our time doing the strangest things to keep ourselves amused!
I still clearly remember her grabbing the garden scissors. I said excitedly, “I can pull the grass and you cut the grass!”
Well, I pulled, and she cut—not only the grass but also one of my fingers, too!
There was blood everywhere. I was crying so hard. My mother ran out, saw what happened, and before I knew it, my mom took me to my aunts to be cared for while my mother went back to my younger siblings at home. My aunt tried to comfort me so she asked me what would make me happy.
I said: “Put my sister in jail.”
Imagine my surprise when I got home from the hospital to see my 8-year-old sister was still there, and not behind bars!
Back then, we didn’t do much physical therapy. Because she cut a tendon, I have lived my whole life with a finger that cannot bend. It has a mind of its own—poking eyes or, even worse, spilling drinks on my mother’s impeccable mantels.
If you happen to see me in a restaurant having a drink with my finger up, please know: I am not pretending to be sophisticated! It is just my #$$%^ stiff finger.
It makes things hard. I struggle to open bottles or packages. The other day I was traveling, and on the plane, they offered those packets of potato chips. I could not open them for the life of me! I tried with my teeth… no success. I looked around for help, but noooooo—everybody was in their own world. Maybe they were amused by my struggle, but nobody offered to help. I was almost standing on the seat trying to open them with my feet! I was hungry and sweaty!
We don’t know what we have until we lose it. Who knew one finger could make such a difference? But I am glad I didn’t lose it completely. I’ve decided I actually like it now… because I look chic with my finger up.
Please, keep my secret.
Share your secrets with me at guadalupej4k@gmail.com.