Posted by CJ on 8/5/11 11:39pm
Msg #392841

The borrower had no hands.

I was signing a couple, and the man had no arms below his elbows. I didn't want to say anything, so I just acted like everything was fine. I put his ID in the journal and pushed it towards him like I do for everyone else. He picked up the pen with the two stumps put together and had a beautiful signature. Then he dipped his right stump in the ink and made a print. He signed every paper with no problem and turned each paper over when done. And he had a JOB.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/5/11 11:58pm
Msg #392842

How inspiring!

Makes me want to smack someone (or myself ) upside the head for whining about dumb little things that we sometimes think are problems... What a great attitude adjustment!

Reply by Buddy Young on 8/6/11 12:08am
Msg #392844

wow, he probably had a great attitude too. An inspiration for all of us.

Reply by HisHughness on 8/6/11 12:39am
Msg #392847

Most inspiring story this week, CJ, hands down.

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/6/11 12:54am
Msg #392848

I've never experienced that there was a condition for creditable witnesses had not the borrower been able to write himself. What type of I.D. did he have, curious?

The last bullet, page nine in our 2011 handbook states "If the document to be notarized is a deed,
quitclaim deed, or deed of trust affecting real property or a power of attorney document,
the notary public shall require the party signing the document to place his or her right thumbprint
in the journal. If the right thumbprint is not available, then the notary public shall have the party
use his or her left thumb, or any available finger and shall so indicate in the journal. If the party
signing the document is physically unable to provide a thumb or fingerprint, the notary public
shall so indicate in the journal and shall also provide an explanation of that physical condition."

Reply by CJ on 8/6/11 1:28am
Msg #392850

I remembered a discussion about this in the Notary Class, and when I saw he had no hands, I immeadiately thought about the thumbprint. I remember in class they joked about if NO fingers and thumbs were available, get a toe-print.

I did write in the Journal that he had no hands and his lower arms were stumps (I did that after the signing). They looked like they were deformed, not cut-off. His arms were perfectly good and muscular, and then a funny little end half-way down the forearms. It made me think about that drug that pregnant women took in the 1960's, and he was born in the 1960s. That would be my guess. I didn't ask or say one thing about it.

I passed out the pens like I always do, and waited for him to say if he could sign or not. But he picked up the pen like no-big-deal, and everybody signed. He even signed quickly.

He had a regular California ID.

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/6/11 2:20am
Msg #392851

it was called thalidomide

Yes, CJ I also remember that part about "if no hands, then toes" so I went back to the journal to verify and only found the section I mentioned (it was also in the Gov't Code section). I would have been in awe too and would have thought creditable witness or signature by mark, until I saw him write. Thanks for answering my question.
Also regarding that drug back in the 60' it was called thalidomide. My grandmother found a young man living in a dump back in the south born with underdeveloped arms and had been abandoned. His name was Henry and we use to call him "wing". Although he was a young man he played with us like the rest of the kids. He stayed with my grandma until he passed, he was about 63 years old we figured.

Reply by BrendaTx on 8/6/11 5:46am
Msg #392852

Re: it was called thalidomide

James, what an interesting story.

Reply by HisHughness on 8/6/11 6:00am
Msg #392853

Re: it was called thalidomide

I'm with Brenda, James: That's a fascinating story. I'd really like to hear more.

Southern African-Americans of my era had this marvelously flexible definition of family, and hearts that could nurture the entire universe. If you were in need, you got taken in. As a long-time men's advocate, I don't like to have to admit it, but that had to be grounded in the matriarchal society that predominated in the African-American community. A lot of black bosoms provided succor to a lot of little heads that would not have had it otherwise. Your grandmother sounds like she was of that tradition.

Reply by jba/fl on 8/6/11 6:13am
Msg #392854

Your grandmother was one he!! of a woman!

That story sure unstuck my morning eyes! Wow!

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/6/11 8:07am
Msg #392861

This took place in Lafayette, La.

We considered him one of the family. He also had a speech problem so he never went to school. He knew how to read and write. Sometime to show off he would write his name holding the pencil with his toes and really make us mad telling us kids that only "country boys" could write with their hands and feet. You can just imagine us stupid city kids trying all day. Wing used to just roll around the yard laughing at us.

Turned out to be a blessing that wing was around, he would run errands for her because when she wanted something, she wanted it NOW! Everybody else was in California.

She lived to be 87 and died in this house ( Calif.) of natural causes with us around her.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/6/11 9:12pm
Msg #392918

Re: This took place in Lafayette, La.

Sounds like she was quite a blessing to you and your family, as well! You must be very proud of her - and rightfully so!!!

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/6/11 8:04am
Msg #392858

Re: The borrower had no hands....James, I'm curious

Why would you consider *credible* witnesses? Even if the signer has to sign by mark, as long as he has current, valid ID, CW's don't apply.

Reply by Notarysigner on 8/6/11 8:13am
Msg #392863

Re: The borrower had no hands....James, I'm curious

not every body has the proper I.D. or if they do 1/2 the time it's expired. I speaking out to the OP showing my wiliness to assist.

Reply by jba/fl on 8/6/11 6:36am
Msg #392855

That you acted normal is awe inpiring as well. Kudos! I am

so pleased to know you.

My mother supports more mouth painters - all her cards and stationery come from those we might casually call "disabled". Sometimes I wonder who are the disabled.

This has taken me longer to write than my longest posts here. I keep thinking how incredably spoiled I am, how insignificant my completeness is in comparison. It is like looking at the stars and realizing you are just a nothing speck of dust. Nothing like adding perspective first thing in the morning with two in a row.

Reply by JanetK_CA on 8/6/11 9:14pm
Msg #392919

Very nicely put... Thanks for sharing your perspective!!! n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/6/11 8:05am
Msg #392859

Amazing story, and I'm with Janet...

makes my aches and pains seem so insignificant - gotta start working on my "whine" factor..

Reply by Susan Fischer on 8/6/11 9:27am
Msg #392872

This is so cool. Such a great reminder of a saying my

Grandmother used - "The man with no shoes complained until he met a man with no feet."

It's so easy to forget.

Many thanks, CJ, and to the other posters.