When I got this new computer, I was irritated to discover that it’s smaller size meant that there was not a ten-key integrated into the keyboard. For various reasons, I use the ten-key frequently. The easiest, and rather inexpensive solution was to purchase an external ten-key.
When I got it, I plugged it in and placed it on the right side of my laptop.
I did this for two reasons.
The ports are all on the right side of my laptop and an integrated ten-key would normally be on the right side of the keyboard. I used it like this for months.
But one night, not to long ago (actually since my last post), I became rather irritated with it’s location on my lap desk.
I don’t even remember what irritated me. It could have been where all the cords were since at the time I was charging my laptop and listening to something, and all the plugin ports are on the right side. Or it could have been that my ten-key just seemed to be in a weird position or wouldn’t stay put where it was. (It kept sliding around.)
And this sliding around wasn’t even new. It did it so regularly that I had gotten in the habit of putting the thing in my lap, or at least on the bed on that side of my table. But for whatever reason this began to frustrate me, so I decided to move it the left side.
Obviously, I can still only plug it in on the right side, but it did come with a rather long cord. However, since I had kept it by where it was plugged in, I had not removed the twist tie it came with. To move it, I had to undo the twist tie, though I only let out enough cord to let it reach the other side.
So, I assumed that I would only have it on the left for that evening, while it was irritating me.
No.
I have just automatically placed the thing on the left ever since.
I didn’t even know why.
Sure, it isn’t sliding around as much, and the jumble of cords when I’m charging it and listening to something just doesn’t get irritating either. There is also the added benefit of being able to see the ten-key easier when the only light in the room is coming from my reading light, which is positioned on my side of the bed. My left side.
Anyway, since I moved the thing, I’ve found that I prefer it on my left side which I would not be able to do if it was integrated in the keyboard.
Now, a day or so after I started putting it on my left my son, and resident tech, noticed I’d moved it and asked why.
This started a conversation about why I’d moved it and, of course, the fact that I could move it precisely because it wasn’t integrated. But it also got me to realize exactly why I prefer it where it is now.
It’s not that it’s no longer sliding around. Or that there is no issue with the jumble of cords on that side. Or even that my reading light can now illuminate it.
It’s far more basic than that.
After this conversation I realized that with it on my right I would often remove both my hands from my keyboard and cross my left hand over to the ten-key to use it. With the ten-key on my left, I just slide that hand over an inch or so and use it without moving my right hand from the keyboard.
And believe it or not, it took some thought for me to figure out why that is though it should be no surprise to our loyal readers.
As we have pointed out multiple times we are mirror twins.
Not the completely mirror images, everything switched to the other side, even internal organs, sort because neither one of us has organs where they aren’t expected to be. We are just the sort of mirror twins who predominantly use the opposite hands.
And folks I’m the lefty!
No, that is not a newsflash. We’ve known that for a long time. But this realization just brought home to me exactly how much of our world is not accommodating to lefties.
And it’s not just keyboards. Manual can openers, scissors, and even potato peelers are not exactly designed for left-handed people. (I will admit that there is one type of peeler and scissors that are for lefties, but they are not the ones most readily available.)
In other words, throughout my life I have had to adjust to a world that was not built for me, and this is just another example of how I’ve adjusted.
Smile. Make the day a better day.
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