The funniest thought crossed my mind while looking at my hands the other day. I named my left index finger my Princess finger because the nail was at the perfect length and roundness that I thought only a princess would have nails like that. I, not being a princess, was allotted only the one princess finger, I guess because I am female.
I want you to know that princesses are not normally things of which I muse on, so it was all the more surprising that this thought crossed into my head. I guess my nail was looking particularly delightful that day, all dressed up.
My father’s hands are like the rest of his family, big, thick fingers with lots of lines and wrinkles, especially on all of the knuckles. They are big, farmer hands and very capable. I have those hands and do like to work in the dirt and am a bit capable with tools, yet only mildly helpful with stringing a fence, digging postholes, etc., and I have never plowed. Yet, I am from that stock and my hands reveal that past.
My mother’s side of the family at one point came over on the Mayflower. That part of my family labored as aides to ladies, cleaning crew, and other servant types, again, working with their hands.
I like that my family history is in my hands.
When I was growing up, my new piano teacher inspected my hands and the webbing between the fingers and the length of them as well and pronounced that they were good fingers for playing piano and she could teach me. Its interesting that body type can sway you to one instrument or the other, much like sports and other physical activities.
These days what I do with my hands is type on the keyboard and randomly stare at my hands when I have 20 seconds to attempt to groom myself. What is up with my fourth finger on my left hand? The nail on that finger grows at twice the rate as any other nail! And why are the tips of my nails on the left side always white, whereas my right hand is spotty with white splotches on the nails? For decades its been this way. I mean, I can’t even look at that hand most of the time because it is not nearly as attractive as my left hand. That hand has the princess finger, for chrissakes. Obviously it is the hand that I would choose if I had to, but unfortunately, I write with my right hand. So, there’s the rub.
RE: the white spots. there’s this http://www.wisegeek.com/what-causes-white-spots-on-fingernails.htm
My understanding of finger slimness + length : guitar virtuosity was shattered when I saw Mike F (who I played with in THE LATEST) play guitar with Headache City. That dudes hands are like anvils and each finger is plump as a grapefruit, but his playing is incredibly smooth.
I don’t have any princess fingers or prince fingers but I do have dirt under my nails right now from gardening and I do have a roughnecker finger. That’s the crooked one with an artificial joint.
Fingers!