I am not a weakling.
I used to carry full-grown men across judo mats, along with dragging their full body weight up and down the mats. I can and have moved furniture by myself up and down stairs. I routinely carry cases of paper around at work.
My hands are so small that I can barely reach an octave on the piano keys, and pinkie rings are too big for my ring fingers. Of course, my tiny fingers are extraordinarily helpful when someone needs to reach up and into the broken copy machine at work to retrieve bits of paper that no one else can access without barbecue tongs (which we do not keep in the teachers' room).
However, my limited grip berth is detrimental when trying to open things like jars and bottles. More than once, I have had to take serrated knives to the plastic caps on bottles in order to open them. Oh, sure, I can lift cases of these bottles. I just don't have the brute hand span to get a decent grip for torque.
Imagine, if you will, my limited grip versus a very well-sealed bottle of sangria.
I try and try and try to turn the cap, but it is fused metal-to-metal. I get one of those rubber grippy things and work at it, but it doesn't budge. I even try leather gloves, which have a much better grip than tiny hands alone do. Finally, I grab my handy serrated knife (that I keep for such occasions and for breaking down large boxes) and start pecking apart the metal ring holding the cap to the bottle neck.
Finally, I grab a wrench. Yes, a wrench. an industrial sized wrench, not some small one. I am going to open this bottle or break it and dump its contents down the sink. I use a washcloth, too, just in case the glass does break, to add an element of safety to this endeavor.
Once I get the bottle open (after several attempts), I take a look at the cap. It is bent, and not just bent a little bit, but bent in a way that the manufacturer seemed to intend that no one could ever break into the bottle. It's like the makers of Fort Knox created the sealant to this bottle. As I am adding fruit to my glass and preparing to pour the sangria in, I swear I hear the theme song from Mission Impossible playing.
I think I'm done with these bottles. I understand now why people gravitate toward pop-top sodas and boxed wines. At least I won't need the power tools to have some refreshment.
