The Culprit

Well, I’ve somehow managed to injure myself again; this time my left hand (I’m left handed, so, cool). Nothing major but it’s still one of those annoyances that seems to come from aging. This time I was truly doing something epic, though, that makes it totally worthwhile. Just kidding. I was opening a jar. To be fair it was a wide jar and the lid was on there pretty solidly.

I was going about my business, being a nice mom, making lunch for my daughter. I remember the days of my childhood and how I found peanut butter and jelly sandwiches VERY satisfying. I went a long time without them as an adult, and once I started making them for my kids I remembered. They are delicious. But times have changed, and my daughter claims to like them, but requires them to be almond butter instead of peanut butter. And, oh, she doesn’t like jam, but prefers fruit butters from her favorite general store in North Carolina (we live in Maryland) or the homemade ones from the Pennsylvania Dutch Market (this IS in Maryland, but the market is only opened 3 days a week for the Pennsylvania Dutch people to travel down here to sell their tasty wares). She prefers the blueberry butter. So, not really the PB&J of my youth. Now it’s an AB&BB sandwich. Doesn’t really have the same ring to it. I digress.

As I labored over the jar, I realized things were going south. I grabbed a jar gripper/small-rubbe- mat-I-got-free-from-somewhere. It still wouldn’t budge. But I don’t give up. And I wasn’t going to ask my husband for help and watch him open it with easy effort, after I had already “loosened it up” for him. Eventually it popped open. I was sweating by that point. And that’s how I strained/sprained my hand. Now, I’m wearing a cool black brace and looking pretty sweet trying to hold a cup of water. I have promptly ordered a jar opener that will give me leverage. I have a feeling it will be the best $6.99 I have ever spent. I will never underestimate a jar lid again!