So . . . long time,
no blog! Life got busy and crazy, readers! (All 5 of you.) And, since I’m not making money off this little venture and doing it really for myself more than
anything, I don’t feel too bad about not posting for a while. Now let’s just jump
right in, shall we?
Here’s the short version for those with no attention
span/interest in this topic:
I got my nose pierced because I wanted to and couldn’t see
why not. The End.
You could stop there, but if you want, here’s the longer
version for those who are reading blogs because they are procrastinating
something they actually should be doing right now:
Last week, while my good friend Kim and I were visiting our
other good friend Bethany up in New York City, I got my nose pierced. There is,
at this very moment, a small, white gold (gold is apparently the best thing to
pierce with but I’m not a fan, so white gold it is) stud on the outside of my left
nostril. It’s a little larger than I wanted it to be, but in 3 months or so I
can change it out for something smaller. Even so, I like it. It is – at the
risk of sounding immodest – cute.
I didn’t get my nose pierced on a whim, by the way. I’ve
wanted a nose piercing for at least 8-10 years (no, really). But various
factors – mostly work – made it impractical or impossible and so I never seriously
considered it until recently, then realized this is the perfect time. Work is
certainly not an issue; I work at a state university, for pete’s sake – if you
think I’m the only teacher with a nose ring you need to think again.
What I think is funny are the reactions my nose-piercing has
provoked from people. It is an understatement to say my parents were not
thrilled. My boss stared at my nose for a few seconds with a puzzled look on
his face, as if wondering, “Has Jennifer had the entire two years she’s been
working here?” My fellow teachers’ reactions ranged from carefully neutral to enthusiastic.
My sister declared it “weird” which is her default position on pretty much anything
I do. My 7-year-old nephew said it was “gross” while my 5-year-old nephew said he
wanted one, too (I love those kids).
My favorite reaction has come from a couple of friends I see
on a semi-regular basis – after talking with them for a while, I eventually
brought the subject up with the awkward opener, “So, I got my nose pierced.”
They both replied that they knew something was different but thought maybe I’d
always had my nose pierced. I consider that a sign that it doesn’t look too
out-of-place on me. Victory!
Through all of this I’m reminded of how powerful the image
of ourselves is that we put out into the world every day. I don’t want to put
words in my mom’s mouth, but it’s probably fair to say that – in her mind – sailors
get tattoos and rebellious teenagers get facial piercings. (Mom, just to
reassure you, I’m stopping with the nose piercing!) She’s having to reconcile
the image she has of me as her “baby girl” with the idea that I’m not a member
of a biker gang, or a circus performer, or an undercover FBI agent in need of a
good disguise but I chose to do this anyway.
There is, it must be said, a part of me that loves
confounding others’ expectations of me. Now, I don’t think that’s why I did it.
I didn’t do it to be rebellious – seriously people, it feels like 25% of the
people I know now have their noses pierced – but it’s kind of a lovely side
benefit when people think they have you all figured out, in your safe little
box labeled Jennifer (or whatever your own box might be labeled, I’m presuming
for the most part NOT Jennifer) and you do something that doesn’t fit in the
box. I think the unexpected is a nice shock to the system for the people around
you as well as for you. It keeps us on our toes.
And not to over-spiritualize this, but I’ve been learning
some lessons about judgment from this, for sure. When people look a certain way
think we know how to deal with them, how to approach them (or not approach
them, as the case may be) and what their personalities are going to be like.
Well, now I’m an educated, well-read, articulate 34-year-old woman with a nose
ring and otherwise poor fashion sense. No biggie. See if people know how to
handle me now.
So those are my Saturday ramblings. Would YOU get your nose
pierced? Do you have a picture in your head of the kind of person that
does? Anyone thing I should get a chain
that goes from my nose to my ear? (Just kidding, Mom! I promise!)
