[threedaymonk]

> the idea of losing an arm (or even a finger!) is scares the crap out of me.

I damaged my right little finger in a bicycle accident several years ago, and for a long time I couldn't bend it properly. One might think that a little finger is insignificant, but it really isn't! I couldn't even hold a handful of coins without them falling out.

I did eventually win back normal movement in my finger, and I'm very glad.

(Edit to add for the benefit of US readers: little finger = pinky)