hands

[bird]

As I was typing my post earlier , I looked at my hands. Each of those crevices in my hand were filled with grease, dirt... something like that. I remember when I used to hold my grandmothers hand she always said, "why are you hands so rough?"
      "It is called work, Nana."
As a kid, I remember my dad coming in from the garage. He was a doctor, and would quickly be called in for surgery. My mom would say, "Honey, you can't go into surgery with your hands looking like that!"  Dad would do his best to rid his hands of the grease and gunk that kept his spirit alive. I guess they've come out with better "hand cleaners" for grease monkeys, buy it didn't exist then. The best he could do was tell mom, "I'll be wearing gloves, no one will notice."
      Hands can tell a lot about a person!

[Bill Houghton]

When my future bride's father died - can't recall call him my father-in-law, since Arlene and I weren't then married - I was asked to be one of the pall-bearers at the funeral.  I was then working in a gas station, and I had lots of embedded grease in my hands.  Parts of the family were horrified, but Arlene pointed out that her father had been a welder, and his hands were always similarly decorated.

I suspect, had I met him, he'd have seen my hands as a sign that I was performing honorable work; he might have forgiven me for living with his youngest daughter without the benefit of matrimony.

[Chillylulu]

I'm constantly tearing mine up. 2 burns are healing,  several wounds too.

I usually don't know I've injured them until I see blood.

The first Sunday of February my right hand started to swell up. I was in urgent care so fast they watched it swelling. I had the first shot 40 minutes after it started.  2 weeks of 2 antibiotics, then two and a half more and the swelling is almost gone.

My right hand ring finger likes to bend at the 2nd joint, and the muscle that pulls it back is getting weaker. When I wake up I just push it against my body somewhere to straighten it out.

I drop everything.

But I still get them dirty. I'm not ready to watch TV all day yet. I got a special digitizer so that I could keep working. I hooe I can get another 5 years out of them. That would take me to 60. I'll still be getting them dirty.

And I'm not complaining.  I wouldn't trade any of you for your problems. This isn't so bad.  Even at Christmas when I cut the side of my left thumb off. Right down the side of the nail.

It's a little bit easier trusting someone who has been working with their hands.

Chilly

[p_toad]

Pah.   Whether it's stuff i get on my own hands or i go into someone's shop and offer to shake and they go, but my hand's all dirty; i'm like..so what?   It washes off and it's honest dirt.   Anyway, i haven't eaten my peck yet, so i'll just keep on.   Don't let it bother you.   

[bird]

I'm constantly tearing mine up. 2 burns are healing,  several wounds too.

I usually don't know I've injured them until I see blood.

The first Sunday of February my right hand started to swell up. I was in urgent care so fast they watched it swelling. I had the first shot 40 minutes after it started.  2 weeks of 2 antibiotics, then two and a half more and the swelling is almost gone.

My right hand ring finger likes to bend at the 2nd joint, and the muscle that pulls it back is getting weaker. When I wake up I just push it against my body somewhere to straighten it out.

I drop everything.

But I still get them dirty. I'm not ready to watch TV all day yet. I got a special digitizer so that I could keep working. I hooe I can get another 5 years out of them. That would take me to 60. I'll still be getting them dirty.

And I'm not complaining.  I wouldn't trade any of you for your problems. This isn't so bad.  Even at Christmas when I cut the side of my left thumb off. Right down the side of the nail.

It's a little bit easier trusting someone who has been working with their hands.

Chilly

Yep, those hands tend to take a toll on us. As for my age, my "kids" always ask how old I am and I honestly don't know the answer. Anne was with me the other day, I looked at her and said, "You're 41"
"I'm 40? When did that happen?"   I could care less, it's a miracle I've made it this long. But, I can sympathize about your hands. I've had four surgeries on my right hand, two on my left... and let's not count how many times I've had stitches on both of them!! They still work for the most part... a little harder to play the piano, guitar, banjo, ect.  but, I still manage to play them. I never trust a person with no dirt on their hands :)
I'm sorry you're having so much problems with your hands.... that's awful!
cheers
jenny bird

[Batz]

I am 62 and worked in factories or mining all my life, as an apprentice I remember so many tradesmen with one or more fingers missing. We at least improved our safety there, I still have all mine but I've had a few close calls!
 

[john k]

Been retired almost two years, from the auto shop.  Noticed that my hands been getting whiter as time goes by.  Found one of the best hand degreasers is clean motor oil.   Rub it in,  well,  most grease stains will come out.   Motor Oil will also remove 3-M yellow adhesive, most guys don't know that.    Always used a hand lotion before I got into something nasty, sort of putting something down in those crevices before they get the dirt pushed down there.   Can count to ten with my shoes on, got all my finger nails, and about a half dozen scars from things that needed stitching up.  Hard to hear stories about hand problems, being as they are our best tools.

[J.A.F.E.]

My late FIL used to say "that dirt under my nails put food on the table".

I have found Bar Keepers Friend is pretty good at getting the grime out of the finger prints.