Left-handed handshake?

[rockfan4]

I went to my brother-in-law's place for Easter.
This year he invited his brother and his brother's wife, they haven't been to a holiday gathering in recent history.

My other brother-in-law walks in in his fine Canadian tuxedo, shakes his brother's right hand, shake's his nephew's right hand, and offers me his left hand.

I'm not a boy scout, I doubt he ever was, so from the info on the internet, that says he doesn't think much of me. Is there something I'm missing?

Family info - my wife was an 'oops', she's 11 years younger than her youngest brother, 15 years younger than this brother. Five boys, these are boys 4 and 5, and then the girl, and her parents got divorced a few years after most of the boys had left the house, and she was still fairly young. I've only met this brother a handful of times, even though the wife and I have been together almost 14 years. I'm her second husband.

[Chocaholic]

Don’t over think it. It means nothing. Maybe he hurt his other hand/wrist or had an unseen prune danish in his right hand.

[cabmandone]

Maybe he's a right hand wiper and didn't think much of the others!

[stevej37]

Maybe he still uses the 'hippy handshake' from the 60's. (or a version of it)

It was very common, but everyone used the right hand then. Instead of clasping the other's hand....you both went for the wrist or forearm.

I remember getting some strange looks from older people at that time.

[Tobra]

Ask him.

I would have been offended by that

[masraum]

Weird, I don't think I've ever run into someone that was a left handed shaker unless they obviously had some issue with the right (cast, deformed, etc...).

I would have though, "huh, weird" but that likely would have been the last thing that I thought of it.

I was a boyscout. I didn't/don't remember a left handed hand shake. I had to look it up.

[The Synergizer]

It's how confirmed Old Style drinkers always shake hands as they have a beer in the right hand!

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by cabmandone

Maybe he's a right hand wiper and didn't think much of the others!

Mebbe he wipes with bofem (both of them) and doesn't think much of anyone

If it bothers you ask him ... I don't think I'd lose any sleep tho....

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by masraum

I would have though, "huh, weird" but that likely would have been the last thing that I thought of it.

That was my thought at the time, but I got to thinking about it after I got home.
I probably won't see him again for a year or more. I'll probably forget about it by then.
They live about 30 minutes away, except the DOT is going to tear out and replace the road and 3-4 bridges on the highway to them this summer, the detour will make it 45 minutes.

[Dixie]

Let me guess, the other men are Canadian? If so, I believe he was making a political statement.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Let me guess, the other men are Canadian? If so, I believe he was making a political statement.

It would be the last time that SOB ever saw me.

There's a time and place for everything. This wasn't the time.

[herr_oberst]

Maybe it's the secret "are you holding anything that will help us get through this family event" handshake?

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

Maybe it's the secret "are you holding anything that will help us get through this family event" handshake?

Like a "left handed cigarette"??

[rockfan4]

Originally Posted by Dixie

Let me guess, the other men are Canadian? If so, I believe he was making a political statement.

They are not Canadian, born and raised in Wisconsin.
Both are very left leaning.
I don't talk politics with family.

Come to think of it, my sister-in-law's sister's ex-husband is very right leaning, and would let you know it every chance he got. Maybe his departure (they got divorced last year) led to the other brother and his wife attending.

For Dixie - a Canadian tuxedo is jeans and a jean jacket, ideally faded to exactly the same color.

Does anyone else dress for family dinners? I used to wear a shirt and tie to these things, but nobody else did, so yesterday it was jeans and a college sweatshirt. And a rain jacket. Almost 2 inches of rain yesterday afternoon.

[vash]

I would file it under "whatever". definitely not under, "them's fighting words!"

I would have asked, I think.

[stevej37]

I would have laughed and said "Is this what the kids are doing now a days?"

[David]

It’s convenient and means nothing more than that. At least he didn’t bump fists

[flatbutt]

People who don't know me get put off initially when I offer them my left hand until they realize that my right hand is crippled.

[Steve Carlton]

And here I was thinking you were a dick all these years...

Sounds like a physical version of a left handed compliment. I would challenge him to a duel. Slap him across the face with a glove in your left hand. Pistols at 20 paces.

[LEAKYSEALS951]

Think nothing of it.
If he does it again- state- in your best mafia voice.

"Ahhh... You greet everyone with your right hand, but me, your left. Coincidence? or, how sinister of you." (smiling)

"You know what sinister means don't you? Knives even still legal up here? Just so you know, I don't like a knife fights, so I shoot from the right"
Give him a big chummy hug (Stick right finger into his waist and smile as your left hands are locked as you pull him in tightly. ) "So good to see you bro!"

...click....

Laugh loudly- mafia like

There's nothing wrong with psychopath.

edit- I am left handed and I approve this message.