I am right-handed. No big surprise there since it’s estimated that 90% of the population is right-handed. However, I am somewhat ambidextrous and there are many random things that I do left-handed. I don’t really pay attention to what those things are until something or someone calls my attention to it. The first time I remember this happening was when I began working my first part-time job at a fast food restaurant in my teens. Let’s face it, wrapping a sandwich in a paper wrapper isn’t rocket science. My trainer showed me the correct wrapping procedure and had me emulate him. He then cocked his head at me and furrowed his brow. “Do that again,” he instructed. I did it again. “You’re doing it backwards,” was his determination. Backwards? How could I possibly be wrapping a sandwich backwards? After some experimentation, we realized that I was wrapping them left-handed as opposed to his right-handed method.

Random things I do left-handed:

• Wrapping sandwiches
• Dealing cards
• Counting money
• Opening screw-top bottles and jars and pop-tab cans
• Opening doors
• Weeding
• Counting weevil larvae

Wait, counting weevil larvae? Yes, dear reader, you read that correctly.

Since my new part-time job involves working for an entomologist, bugs are always a possibility. Currently, once a week, I hand-count a few thousand weevil larvae. (Exciting, right?) About halfway through the process the mild arthritis in my left shoulder reminds me that counting is something I do left-handed. Kenn would tell me to just switch to counting right-handed, but that wouldn’t work. Trying to count larvae (or anything actually) right-handed would just take longer and result in many dropped weevils. I’ll just be taking ibuprofen on weevil counting days, LOL.

So, are you right or left-handed? Are you ambidextrous?