Why do I always, always cut myself when I'm chopping meat or veggies? It never fails. And every time I chop veggies I think of the times back in elementary school when I would help my aunt prepare dinner. She was trying to make sure I became a woman worthy of marriage, meaning that I would have good manners and be able to cook for my man and a passel of brats. And so I can clearly remember skinning potatoes, and hearing her say "always cut away from your fingers." And I thought how difficult it was to do so, and how much easier it was just to slice however I wanted. For that matter, it was also easier to watch tv with my dad and uncle instead of helping in the kitchen. But such is the curse of being a girl in the South. You're expected to help prepare the meal and clean it up. And want to do it too, dadgumit. The men watch tv or shoot at small animals before dinner, and then afterward they'd poke out their bellies, pick their teeth with toothpicks, and perhaps belch.

So perhaps I always cut myself when chopping veggies because I resent the expectations of a woman in the South. Or maybe I'm just lazy. Yeah, that's probably it.