Click the video above for 2 minutes of background waves while reading.
I like to walk on the beach. It is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
The day is cloudy, the wind is brisk, and the temperature is cool. At least it is warm enough that I’m not wearing gloves. After thinking about hands, my draft indicates hands and fingers should be separate topics – so fingers it is.
Fingers – those five bony, flexible extensions at the end of our hands known as digits, but referred to as thumbs, index, middle, ring, pinkie, pointer, little, and baby. We identify fingers by numbering them one to five from the outside while standing with our arms at our side and our palms facing forward. This means the thumb is the first digit … and yes, my inner science teacher is invading this walk.
Do we have five fingers or four fingers and a thumb? After all, the thumb is a digit but is it a finger? You decide the answer.
Each digit lines up with a corresponding hand bone. Each has three bones, except for the thumb having only two.
Fingers are those bony extensions without muscles around them, which is a reason why they easily get cold. The muscles moving fingers are in the forearm. This is why I prefer wearing mittens on very-cold days at home – but gloves are fine here when necessary.
Fingers for handling, manipulating, counting, pointing, gripping, and caressing while possessing a sensitive sense of touch. Fingers are responsible for transforming thoughts from the brain through nerves to muscles so the fingers move to create words on paper by typing or writing.
Musicians use fingers to press and release the values of brass instruments. Fingers open and close the holes of woodwinds. Fingers pick, strum, stroke, and change the length of strings. Fingers hold drumsticks, guide a trombone slide, and artfully manipulate the keys of a keyboard. Fingers for holding an artist’s brush and a writer’s pencil.
Fingers that athletes use to handle a ball or control a grip. Fingers we all use for handling eating utensils, then even lick after holding something tasty. Everyone knows the Colonel’s chicken is finger-linkin’ good.
Fingers with a pattern of swirls, ridges, and whorls for personal identity we know as a fingerprint. These patterns that DNA determines are unique, durable, detailed, consistent, and difficult to change.
Fingers find a pulse, give a massage, scratch an itch, run through hair, or caress a loving face. We even cross our fingers for luck.
We use the tip of our fingers to detect touch. Think about how much we rely on touch in daily life. I think about how touch is a way we can differentiate with closed eyes – how touch is a way of communicating words to the blind – how fingers communicate to the deaf – how touch communicates emotion to a loved one.
I think about how we humans protect ourselves and use a finger to point blame – but forget three fingers point back at the accuser. Unfortunately, there are times when we count something with our fingers on one hand, but we shouldn’t confuse this with a five-finger discount.
I think about the jellyfish’s tentacles extending from its body with tips sensitive to touch, yet our fingers are much more capable of moving colors as we fingerpaint.
We can have itchy fingers, sticky fingers, butterfingers, snap our fingers, be all fingers and thumbs or just all thumbs – or give the finger – but beware if someone asks to pull their finger.
As my walk ends, I stand looking at the sea and wonder about the fingers in its world. I see a few dolphins passing by. Although their fingers are not like ours, human and dolphin bone structures are closer than many people realize.
It has been interesting thinking about fingers. As humans, we are all fingers on the same hand. We may not look alike, but we are all needed. Nonetheless, I’m glad to be here thinking as I walk on the beach because walking on the beach is good for the mind, body, and soul – and refreshing on my feet.
Special thanks to Laurie at Notes from the Hinterland for introducing Yasmin Williams to me, the musical artist featured in the video.
See what other bloggers have posted about Fingers
- Baby Art (surprising finger-paint art by an 8-month-old)
- Young Fingers (a photo)
- Five Fingers Old (a poem)
- Yoga for Wrists, Hands, and Fingers (an essay)
- Hands (a past beach walk)
- Touch (a past beach walk)
Next Post: Shapes – Friday 15th June @ 1 AM (Eastern US)
Fingers…the useful tools that distinguish us from so many other creatures…because we have those opposable thumbs…
I laughed when I read about the Five Finger Discount…we used that term when I was a teen working in a store…for the shoplifters! Funny hting is, I was just talking about that with a resident at my work the other day:)
One, Two, Three Four…those are the numbers of the fingers on my violin…used in various places on the fingerboard…though on a cello, there is also a thumb position.( Index finger being one, pointer beong two, etc)
When my son was learning piano at the tender age of 5, he used those as references too…Peter Pointer, etc.On a piano, the thumb is one.
I love seeing pictures of infants tiny fingers holding on to a huge one of their mother or father. Or a chubby toddler’s fingers clutching a few dandelions to give away to someone they love.
And I hate the fact that my own fingers no longer can move as well as they once did…no more violin playing, and sometimes its hard to do my day to day tasks…arthritis is such a bane…though I manage most of the time.
I ran an industrial stapler machine over my left thumbnail once…yikes. I couldn’t do anything for a while with my left hand, and its amazing how much you need the non dominate complete set of digits to do most anything!
I am glad God gave me the fingers that are attached to my hands!
PS: I left some replies to your comments at Teaser Tell all…that was a 3 am brain malfunction on my part…Oops. LOL!!
My Bad, and please forgive me of my slip up.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ingrid,
We can say so much about fingers, so thanks for sharing a small bit of your digital experiences. 😉 What top-level musicians do with their fingers fascinating me! … and they are so controlled! Glad Five Finger Discount made you chuckle. After all, I haven’t heard that term in a long time, but I recalled from my youth. Meanwhile, thinking about a machine damaging fingers makes me cringe!
LikeLiked by 1 person
We finger fabric and emotions – point fingers to assign place, make accusations, and to single out an individual… We steeple fingers when thinking and that’s just what this post did, it made me think!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Muri,
I’m thrilled when a reader tells me one of these essays got them thinking. Thanks for delivering a smile! I’m sure our finger habits would be a story in itself! 🙂
LikeLike
I’m very aware of an ache in my right index finger this morning. It gets a lot of use, typing and such. I was just thinking how distressing that must be for a musician when I opened up that hypnotic video. Amazing to have that dexterity and musicality.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Jo,
Oh the lack of movement in the fingers as we age … and that probably affects most of us. Yuk! I had a feeling you would enjoy this video! Thanks for letting me know.
LikeLike
🤗💗
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m very grateful for my fingers and thumb.. all that weeding turning of earth the grip of a pen the cluck of a mouse the tap on the keys.
Excellent post and thoughts Frank.
Have a high five day. 🙌
LikeLiked by 2 people
Sue,
I know you work your fingers into the soil to help make the garden wonderful and fruitful … so keep doing that! After all, I know it gives you much joy and relaxation. Cheers to a good day!
LikeLike
Thank you Frank have a lovely weekend 💚
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lol the cluck of a mouse 🐁 🤣😅🤣 haha seems my diget hit the wrong key on my phone pad. Lol 😍
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have to admit this subject made me think of a poem I wrote years ago titled “My Mother’s Hands”……about how I used to admire her graceful hands when she was young and how they changed through the years and became arthritic and stiff and covered with age spots…….AND that mine looked just like hers now that I’m older. I always wanted pretty hands with long fingernails and smooth skin but was not blessed thusly! Hands do so much work through the years – they are our most used “tools”. They show signs of use and abuse yet they can still be graceful and expressive. Fun subject Frank……
Pam
LikeLiked by 2 people
Pam,
Oh wow – I wish I would have come up with your last two sentence because it says a lot about hands and fingers! Thanks for sharing the personal thoughts relating your hands to your mother’s.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was the perfect follow-up to Touch! Beautifully written, my friend!
Yanas!!!!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Marina,
Touch, hands, and fingers are so intertwined – so it would be hard to truly separate them. Thanks for the reminder about touch – which got me to add it to the closing list. Yamas!
LikeLike
😉
Yamas, my friend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
An important part of our anatomy and life–and yet, something we probably don’t think about often unless there’s a problem. Thanks for the reminder, Frank.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Merril,
Linking anatomy and life is a good descriptor … thank you! There’s no doubt that we take fingers for granted – therefore why we don’t think about them unless there is a problem. Thanks for walking along.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Frank!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks for the gentle reminders about how precious, useful and vital our fingers are! I ruptured the tendon in my right hand middle finger years ago and it still bothers me at times, if the handle of an eating utensil has too thin an edge, or when trying to write with a pencil or pen for more than a minute or two. A gift not to be taken for granted!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Barbara,
Thank you for sharing a bit of your personal history with fingers because I think it’s human nature to take them for granted. The decrease in nimbleness as we age can be discouraging.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m developing arthritis in a couple of my fingers, but so long as I can press the shutter button, I’ll cope! Cool post Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fraggle,
We do so much with our fingers, therefore arthritis affects so much of want we do in a day. So far so good for me – but not for my wife. Hang in there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Nice post Frank! Generally we don’t pay attention to our fingers, only when we hurt them we realize how important they are.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Elizabeth,
Well stated. Finger dextirity is an important part of human identity and life. Thanks for walking along.
LikeLike
Fingers…one of the most incredible tools we have at our disposal-they do the basics and yet they are capable of fantastic talent. Lovely musical accompanying video-talk about talented fingers!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Monica,
Fingers as one of our tools is a great descriptor because they do so much! Glad you enjoyed the video. I must admit that I wasn’t sure about the closing video – but once I saw this one, I knew it was it …. and I can thank Laurir for introducing me to the artist.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would think fingers definitely fall into the take-it-for-granted category…until they go awry. Mine have served me well all these years, and while they aren’t as robust as they used to be, they still allow me to do everything I need and want to do…and for that I am extra-grateful!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Bruce,
I agree that most of us take fingers for granted – me too! Like yourself, mine have also hung in there through again. Then again, I also realize that aging can get to each of us in time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a lovely walk this morning! Sadly, I fear too many of us aren’t sufficiently grateful for the blessing of fingers and thumbs.Seeing ads for hospitals like St. Jude — with kids having to use their toes to pick up things — makes me feel awfully blessed to have the use of my fingers. Gee, how would I ever play the flute without them? Thanks for pointing out another thing I can be thankful for today, Frank!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Debbie,
Knowing that you enjoy your musical instrument, cheers to all the musical fingers out there in the world. I can remember one of my high school math teachers with deformed fingers. But wow … a good teacher and a smart man! Yet, not everyone is as lucky as him. Thanks for the kind words and for walking along!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used to love my hands but now have bumps on the knuckles (thanks, Mom and Grandmaman – seems I’ve inherited this feature). Said bumps do not cause me too much grief thus far, thankfully.
You might remember my post on hands way back when. Of course, fingers are a the most important part of a nice hand.
Have a wonderful Thursday, Frank!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dale,
Yes, I do recall your hands post – and I’m thinking it was close to my hands beach walk. Meanwhile, isn’t it crazy how little things that we notice come down via genetics! Then again, your hands are also the ones providing wonderful meals!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quite possibly. It is crazy! My hands are mine… now I have the Jewel song in my head. Yes, I needs must share! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfsS3pIDBfw
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think that song … plus seeing Jewel is an added bonus. I almost used that video for the Hands walk – but used this one. https://youtu.be/tnumaX_EJhE
LikeLiked by 1 person
That was a good choice
LikeLiked by 1 person
How could I have played the flute without my ten fingers?
Let us also think of the blind people who read Braille writing with their fingers?
In friendship
Michel
LikeLiked by 1 person
Michel,
Well now – you are the second flute player in the comments! (also Debbie not far above you). Amazing how fingers have an important role in so many musical instruments! FYI – I was a brass player. Thanks for sharing!
LikeLike
Well well well, I haven’t got a spell; but if I had one, I would cast it with the ring finger on my left hand and the thumb and baby finger on my right hand. This would be simultaneous. It would be effective with sparks flying and birds chirping. Or something like that. Go figure? Ahh, I should say, go finger. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EnseiOJ2jGQx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Resa,
Oh no …. Because you are known as the Sorceress, you mentioning spells has me a bit nervous! Great song from back in the day. Very fitting for the day we learned of the passing of the one who composed the Bond theme song.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ahh, I didn’t know that! I went be instinct. Hmm, perhaps I do have a few saucers in me! 😉🙄
LikeLiked by 1 person
I used my middle finger to roll the scroll wheel around the page. I used a finger or two to click in this box, and I’m using too few fingers to type this message. Still, I like these 10 little piggies.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dan,
LOL … how could I have forgotten to include 10 little piggies! Shame on me – but thanks for adding it! Come to think about it, fingers are very important with today’s technology!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I always find it interesting to where your thoughts go on the various topics you choose, Frank. Informants sometimes help to police by fingering fellow bad guys. 🙂 And you can use fingers to make those shadow critters, which is always fun. Happy Thursday.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Janet,
Oh the fun of shadow fingers …. and fingering the bad guy is a good one! Just think – I could have written much more about fingers! In terms of topics, I’ve learned just about anything is applicable. Some are difficult – others easy – even surprisingly so in either way … therefore the list of possible topics is long! (Yes, I keep one.) 😉 Thanks for walking along and sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You definitely have some interesting topics come to mind on your beach walks, Frank. I have friends, and likely you do, too, with pain in their fingers from arthritis or other conditions and when those digits hurt, life becomes less manageable. Without the dexterity that comes with physical strength in the fingers ordinary activities are difficult. I’m a pianist, and I do exercises on the piano to keep my fingers strong and flexible. I can whistle through my fingers, too. LOL! You are right! Our fingers are important to us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Debra,
Thanks for sharing. Arthritis surely changes a person’s life. As a whole, I’ve been lucky – but I also realize some of the struggles my wife encounters. Cheers to your finger exercises working! Regarding topics, actually anything is availability. I actually keep a list of ideas while being open to new ones that come to my mind out of nowhere!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Essential appendages we struggle to do without. Our life in our hands and fingers!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amanda,
Fingers are definitely essential. Then again, the adaptability of people with limited dexterity is also amazing! PS: Friday is ready to go!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am in iso atm but will compose my post in the next day. I am supercharged to write again now after not feeling it the past week, (probs due to being ill).
As for fingers, I think I’ll now write a story about those!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to know I inspired a post. 🙂
LikeLike
a great walk and reflection Frank. I can’t help but think of all of the fingers of the sand crabs and wonderful gifts we hold in our hearts and and hands.. lovely! 💖💖
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cindy,
We truly hold and manipulate so many things with our hands and fingers. The number in a day must be high – let alone in a lifetime. And oh the wonderful memories many of them provide!
LikeLiked by 1 person
When you think about how we tend to take our fingers for granted, this post helps to put it all in perspective so Imma give you a . . . wait for it . . . hand!
Nicknames come to mind when I read this post because let’s face it, I came of age in a mafia stronghold neighborhood in which John Gotti was our idol. So I thought about Tommy “Three Finger Brown” Lucchese. Tommy was nicknamed as such after being booked. A cop noticed his right hand only possessed three fingers so he named him after the the pitcher Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown. Two all-timers as far as nicknames go.
And I have to ask. Was this post underwritten by the great Rollie Fingers?
LikeLiked by 2 people
Marc,
Getting a hand for a fingers post is special. Thank you. Love the baseball references – especially Mordecai. Sure wonder what Chris Berman would have done with him. Oh … Mordecai Three Fingers in the cookie jar Brown …. Meanwhile, Rollie was a great closer!
LikeLike
We understand so much truth through our ability to touch, to feel. Those teeny tiny receptors at the end of our digits open and close the world to us. You do not need to be without sight to see through your fingers. We understand, we accept and we process through the ability to feel in our hands. It’s a pretty powerful sense.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pam,
Most comments have not mentioned the sense of touch and its power … so thank you for doing so. You may not remember, but I did a beach walk on each of the senses …. and the Touch essay is listed in the list of links below the closing video!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I stumbled upon Yasmine’s body of work during hubby’s and my self-initiated 2020 isolation days (in our state there was no official ‘lock down’ period). Good to see her here! As for the fingers…fingers, wrists and elbows are all so interconnected. And nuanced.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Laura,
Oh wow … Thanks for letting me know that you discovered Yasmine during the isolation. See … some good came from it! 😉 Multiple comments mentioned fingers related to musical instruments … and I know you can related to that! Nuanced is a great term for the wrist-hand-fingers combination. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A fine subject this week Frank – she said while using her fingers to enter a response 😊. We don’t often think of many of the integral human parts that help us to function – perhaps because they are so well implemented and connected. Like most of our features it all just works, doesn’t it?! Thanks for the food for thought, as always.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Tina,
Glad you enjoyed this stroll … and thanks for walking along. I like your idea of body parts just work … and (I think) so much so that we take them for granted. You got me thinking about the way photographer’s fingers interact with the camera to capture the right moment – the right nuance. 🙂
LikeLike
I like how ‘fingers’ is a noun and also a verb. Wonderful post, Frank.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Jennie,
Thanks for the reminder because I know I focused on the noun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome, Frank. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yasmin’s music is smooth !
And went so well with fingers as a topic because of what she can do with those strings – wow
//
And love the bits of humor (ie pull the finger or 5 finger discount)
–
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yvette,
Glad to know you enjoyed Yasmin’s musical talent. I can honestly say that I struggled with determining a closing video for this walk – but once Laurie introduced me to Yasmin, the rest is history. Glad you enjoyed the embedded humor. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well I enjoyed all of it – just fyi
Have a great day (‘Frank
LikeLike
Bedtime soon … hoping for a good day tomorrow. … enjoy yours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
And another fun takeaway here was
“We may not look alike, but we are all needed”
Well said Frank !
LikeLiked by 1 person