That may be so, but at least we know where your hands have been.
Sez you. I’m still waiting to run across any of them.
I’ve seen you debate a range of issues honestly and well in GD, I’ve seen you be hilariously entertaining on subjects as diverse as goats, groundhogs, and the perils of changing diapers, and then I trip across a post of yours like the OP here that just plain moves me.
I suppose it could be true that I’ve somehow read a very skewed sample of your posts, or that my asshole-recognition software has been on the fritz for the past year or so. But somehow I doubt it.
BTW, I can totally identify with the bit about hiring the guy. I’ve certainly done stuff too often, out of guilt, that I just plain shouldn’t have done at all, and I guess we all have. But guilt is one of many human emotions that can override our better judgment.
I won’t offer to kiss your hand - I’ll leave that to the female posters - but I’d like to shake it sometime, and then put a glass of beer in it.
Scylla,
Your words struck me to my core. If your eyes are the windows to your most remarkable soul, then surely your hands are the roadmap of your life.
Thank you for sharing that life with us.
Cartooniverse
Scylla,
That was absolutely wonderful writing. I’d love to meet you and shake your beautiful hand(s) someday. Thanks for sharing.
Scylla,
It is an honor to share a message board with you. If you ever come to Houston I must meet you.
But why is this in the pit ?
Wow. What everybody else said.
Submit it to Teemings. Everybody should read it.
A truly great artist can take a weathered, careworn face of an elderly person and make us see the beauty that lives there.
Those of you who have read this thread have just seen that done with words.
Scylla, there may be 5,999,977,000+ people who might think “his hands look ugly.” But there are 12,600+ of us who know that they are truly beautiful.
And the hell with anything having to do with sexuality. If I ever meet you personally, I would be honored to kiss those scarbearing instruments of lifesaving. And I’d venture to guess anyone else here would too.
I’d give you a hand, but you’ve already got some.
You should purge yourself of any guilt, though. Cluelessness often comes with youth (or age), but responding frankly to rudeness is often the best course.
If I can accomplish, in the rest of my life, half of what you’ve already done, I’d consider myself blessed.
What an excellent essay.
Scylla - that was a helluva fine essay, and I can only echo others when I say that you sound like a helluva fine guy. I will also echo others when I ask if you are writing seriously? By which, I mean for bucks, and in some medium less ephemeral than this forum. Your writing reminds me of some of the better works of Dean Ing. You have talent, and something worth saying . . . please don’t waste that.
As for the kid, sounds like he is just taking up space as an intern. But mistakes that we make out of compassion are often not mistakes at all. He may come back to you ten years from now and say, “Remember that summer when I was a crappy intern . . . ?”
Keep writing. And keep using those hands.
Scylla, you introduced me to this place with your “Nazi Groundhogs” thread, and I had to chime in here. I’d be proud to buy you a beer and happily listen to your stories in person. Thanks for being Scylla.
Scylla, hands that wrote a story as beautifully as that, must be beautifull. I was able to imagine every little thing going on in that interview as if I was there, that way of writing keeps people enthralled.
Scylla-
I came to this board due to “Nazi Groundhogs”, and you are one of the main reasons I have stayed. Your wit, humor, frankness, and especially, depth, are what have made you my favorite poster on the board, and one of the few people whose threads I will read simply because you started them. Don’t change, and please continue to share your experiences with us, so that we can learn from them.
You are one of my SDMB heroes.
Scylla,
Thank you for your story.
Looking at someones hands is reading their autobiography and will tell more about them than any set of words.
My Dad’s hands tell the story of hard work, bad decisions, creativity, strength and gentleness (he also taught the Six Million Dollar Man to crush cue balls).
Dear Scylla,
You’re not a “dangerous sea-monster,” but you do strike me as impressive as a “rock uopn the Straits of Messina” (yeah, I looked up “scylla” in the OED). I’m WAY impressed with you, first for giving Putz Boy a chance despite his being so dense, light would bend around him. Second, you’ve actually saved four, not just two lives (I’m sure the toilet bowl incident could’ve become fatal) - probably typical numbers for doctors or firefighters, but you don’t have a job along those lines.
You must have more good karma then you’ll ever know what to do with. Mind sending some my way? 
Seriously, you rock.
Patty
Hey Scylla, will you hit me?
I just want to add another me-too about the groundhogs. It was one of the first threads I read here, and certainly played a big part in making me want to stay. This post was rare and beautiful. Thanks for sharing it.
You have one hell of a talent for writing. Scylla. First, **Goat Porn **, and now a follow up with *Hands *.
But now, on to more serious matter: Just what were you doing instead of watching those kids? HMMMMM?
Very cool story. Interviews can be weird and there’s always one that can change the course. But… dude… um…
How in the fuck do you peel potatoes??? Are you like the Samurai Chef from hell in the kitchen? Remind yourself to never attempt to bone a duck!