Wow, where to start...
Forehead, right side
Lump caused by bicycle mishap, age 7. Result of an attempt to ride down the concrete wall of a dry wash in Arizona.
Forehead, left side
Dent caused by bicycle mishap around age 12. Result of a failed attempt to bunny-hop over an open manhole.
Left thumb
A thin but jagged scar on the side of the thumb. Cut myself with an X-acto knife while attempting to trim leather straps for sandals while helping my dad, age 4.
Left index finger, tip
A semicircular scar on the back of the fingertip, terminating at the nail. Result of attempt to carve a stamp from a wine cork with a pocketknife, age 7. This was quite deep, but no stitches used - treated by parents with mercurochrome and athletic tape. A singularly painful memory.
Left index finger, between first and second knuckle
A thin, sharp line of a scar running diagonally across the back of the finger. Slashed by a friend while playing with knives, age 13.
Meat of left thumb
A small, circular white scar. Shot with rock salt while attempting to joyride on a farmer's tractor, age 15.
Left index finger, side, between first and second knuckle
An oval scar around a 2cm-long strip of flesh detached while attempting to remove a doorknob, age 21. I couldn't find a screwdriver that would fit to push down the little button, so I used a dagger, and slipped. The interesting thing about this one is that the section of flesh (about 4mm thick) was completely detached but has actually regained feeling, showing that nerve connections can actually regrow. No stitches, reattached with antibiotics and athletic tape (again.)
Back of left hand, numerous patches of papery skin
Dropped while being carried around a building in a team race in boy scouts, age 13. Hand was caught between the log on which I was riding and the concrete.
Left shoulder, small round white scar
Same load of rock salt, age 15.
Right index finger, between second and third knuckle
A short linear scar on the inside of the finger. Ran my hand into a sharp piece of metal moving a pair of Beverly shears in a friend's shop while making armor, age 16. This must have severed a more major nerve, because I lost all feeling in the side of that finger for several years and still have a sort of tingly numbness on that side of the finger.
Right middle finger, first knuckle
A diagonal scar across the side of the knuckle. Ran my hand into the side of a grinding belt while roughing out a knife blade (I used to do some blacksmithing.)
Right index finger, between first and second knuckle
A jagged diagonal scar running across the back of the finger diagonally. Smashed my finger between a brick and the crowbar I was wielding while demolishing part of a house I was rebuilding in India, age 27.
All knuckles, backs of hands
Small scars from gobies (little nicks and cuts) obtained while crack climbing.
Inside of right forearm
A short lateral scar obtained in a knife-throwing accident, age 16. The dagger bounced back from the stump I was throwing at and stuck into my arm. A very unnerving wound, because despite being quite deep it didn't bleed at all.
Both forearms, numerous tiny burn scars
From arc welding and smithing without wearing long sleeved shirts, ages 15-20.
Both shins, too numerous to count
The usual boy-scars from skateboards, bicycles, etc. I think I'm still getting new ones currently as results of my ongoing process of learning to unicycle.
Curved scar on torso below right armpit
Unknown origin, which is odd because this scar is about 4 cm long and quite obvious. No recollection of the wound that caused it, though. |
(1988)