Does everyone here know what dewclaws are?
Humans don’t actually have them. They are a part of a dog or cat’s vestigial anatomy. They were put there in order to keep the animal in balance as they take off and run, from predators or towards prey. Over the millenia, as we have domesticated canines and felines, the dewclaw has gone from a sort of ‘thumb’ to being vestigial or ‘extra.’
The general idea is that it serves no purpose for modern day domesticated animals. (It should be mentioned here that many ungulates (deer types) have a type of dewclaw as well). Often, people who concern themselves with their domesticated pets’ appearance, have a dog’s dewclaw removed. From what I can tell, the dogs feel fine about how their dewclaws look and feel. It is just a problem for certain dog owners. Perhaps the owners are not comfortable with their own vestigial anatomy. Which, finally, brings me to my point.
Humans have vestigial anatomy too. In fact, we have many of them. Darwin pointed out that we have structures that clearly point out that we have evolved away from the use of one piece of anatomy in favor of another. A good example would be our earlobes. They don’t really do anything. Earlier on, when were more chimpanzee like, they were perhaps more useful. Now, they just hang there, so we decorate them. They are vestigial.
Unless you don’t buy that argument.
Don’t worry. I am not going to go all deconstructionist a la Derrida on you here.
I just want to make a point. I know I have one here somewhere:
I am operating on those vestigial, seemingly useless parts of myself just now. These are things that I used to not even notice about myself or the world about me: the sun is shining, I’m not broke, my kids are healthy, clean sheets on the bed, gluten free pancakes, good books, my dogs, my cat, my husband (sorry dear), and all the other parts of me that have become vestigial because I am used to them. These things, you may argue, are outside of me. Yes, in a way, but it depends on how you see it. They are normal, everyday pieces of my world that I have taken for granted.
Today and every day for the last ten or more, I am living in a great deal of pain. It hurts to breathe. I feel like there is knife in my side.
I got my pain meds amped up and that still isn’t enough. Probably eating today was a huge error on my part. But, it seemed a good idea at the time:)
So, I have to hang on my vestigial fingernails, to whatever I can.
I have to last through four more complete days. Then I can get some help.
I will do this any way I can.
And I think I am going to need my dewclaws.
Well written – one of your best