Most people blow their noses into tissues. Some people use handkerchiefs, which I admit is kind of nice and charming in a way. In a pinch one may use a sleeve, a piece of paper, or a nearby leather sofa.
But until I was about 15, I had never seen someone use nothing for their nose-blowing. I was watching a Sox game when Carlton Fisk was up to bat. He stood in the batter’s box, swung his bat a few times, and then made his move. He pressed a finger of his hand to one of his nostrils and blew – and the snot came flying forcefully out of his nose.
Naturally I thought this was the most incredible thing ever and I needed to try it.
The next day I was in the shower and, as luck would have it, my nose was stuffy. I went ahead and put a finger on a nostril, holding it closed, and blew.
Instead of a neat, simple flying ball of mucus I was left with a slow, drippy one. I clearly had not blown with enough force – or the circumstances weren’t right with the humidity and all. Something like that.
I’m not ashamed to admit I tried this a number of times since then, but only a few. I’m now mostly convinced that blowing my nose without some sort of receptacle for the output is just not for me.
Posted in Everyday Life, Just Plain Odd