Can I borrow your scissors?

By Nicole Elzenga

I called my mom the other day and asked her why they allowed me to continue be a left-handed writer. Her response, “Because that was what you are.” In my family, it was only myself and my Aunt Norma who were the left-handed odd ones out. If memory serves I believe I was always allowed to sit at the corner of the kitchen table to avoid elbow issues.

Working in the history field, I have been told many times over the years that back in the 1940s and 1950s if your teacher noticed you were left-handed they would insist on changing you to right-handed. This theory was proven when last month a gentleman from Olivia stop at the Research Library to research the grand marshals of the Corn Capital Days. When I glanced over, he was writing with his left-hand. I smiled and commented, “There are three left-handed people in the research library today.” Dick Roper, my co-worker is also left-handed. When I asked the gentleman about his story he stated his teacher tied his left arm behind his back to attempt to change him to right-handed writing. After he graduated, he simply went back to writing left-handed, About two weeks ago I noticed the Renville County Historical Society’s board secretary, Marcia Dworshak was also left-handed. When I brought the matter up at the board meeting, it turned out five out of the eleven at the meeting were left-handed. What I found unusual about these left-handed sightings was five of the left-handers were all over 65 years old. When I asked if their teachers or parents ever tried to change their hand-writing habits only the gentleman from Olivia responded yes.

When I walk into a room I am always curious as to how many other left-handers are nearby. I am very proud left-handed person and tend to notice others. It surprised me that 8 of the 15-people attending a Westbrook Library Book Club meeting a few years ago were left-handed.

I asked a few people what they thought was hardest about being left-handed and the top three answers were trying to arrange where you sit when you eat with a group of right-handed people, writing with pencils is messy and a spiral of a notebook makes it difficult to write.

“Can I borrow your scissors?” 5 out of 6 times when I asked this question at various locations the scissors were molded for a right-handed person. I can’t use right-handed scissors with my right-hand but have taught myself to use my left hand. This goes with manual can openers, curling irons and computer keyboards. To avoid the spiral notebook issue I use a legal pad. Left-handers make up about 10 percent of the world’s population which doesn’t make it surprising that most gadgets are made to be right-hand operated. I was fortunate enough to have Dick Roper give me a pair of left-handed molded scissors so no more sore thumb! If you remember the left-handed scissors at school, I could never use them. They just didn’t work for me.

We have had eight left-handed Presidents, including Barack Obama, Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush. Actors Angelina Jolie, Jim Carrey, Tom Cruise, Hugh Jackman, Robert De Niro, Bruce Willis, Julia Roberts and Oprah Winfrey are also all left-handed. Legendary lefty athletes include baseball legend Babe Ruth and basketball star Larry Bird. I’m proud to be in the company of left-handers Wolfgang Mozart, H.G. Wells, Mark Twain, Bill Gates, Kurt Cobain and Albert Einstein.

I think we should start a left-handed club! I’ll keep doing my daily ‘research’ on left-handers. If you are left-handed please share your story with me!