I mentioned the wire and bark basketry I was doing for the monkeys heads, and that I was expecting my fingers to be sore. I was not expecting to form calluses so quickly. My fingers feel as if I’m wearing a thin pair of gloves on the tips. To other’s touch, they feel as if I polished them with a pumice stone and removed my fingerprints. When I push on the tips, the skin moves slowly and stiffly, as if a layer of glue coats it.
I notice it most when I’m trying to handle something small, like say, putting my contacts in. It is more than passing strange and very disconcerting.
I almost learned to play bass guitar in my freshman year at Queen’s, but as the calluses began to form, I brought a halt to the experiment.
I had no idea.
It was a boy thing. Going completely vegetarian was easier on my hands, so I did that instead.
(OK, it wasn’t exactly like that, but I couldn’t help myself.)
Well, that seems only natural.