Noses Will Breathe Again

Noses Will Breathe Again

A season is coming soon when we will stop wearing masks. I will offer artistic opinion and evidence, not expert opinion. I prefer this kind of evidence because it is highly subjective reasoning open to non-scientific interpretations. My assertion has nothing to do with government mandates, success of vaccines or a scientific discovery of a cure. It is an opinion based on a conversation with my nose. Look at your nose keenly, look around at other noses near you if possible, and consider whether noses were meant to be covered.

This assertion will be disappointing to some who have fully embraced masks. Over the two years, masks have grown from objects of intrusion and disruption to objects of fashion statements, objects of facial decoration. Indeed, masks during their downtime (when not covering noses) double up as great arm and hand accessories.

l am deliberate about avoiding scientific discussions around the virus and related scientific subjects. Although there is one thing I have always been curious about: “Why did they stop injecting people in the anterior anatomy?” It was fun. Perhaps, in this age of plastic-enhanced body parts, it was meant to avoid some intrusive conversations. You can imagine a nurse having such a talk. “Before we administer the injection, we have to determine the length and thickness of the needle. I have to ask you a very personal question. Is your behind natural or synthetic?” 

I have read of people having conversations with their body parts and especially the private ones. There is strong motivation for these kinds of monologues — having fun, therapy, efforts to whip body parts to obedience or subservience. I borrowed a leaf and decided to have a chat with my nose. I stood in front of the mirror and looked at it from different angles, then posed the question, “how do you feel about being covered?” My nose has never disappointed me especially when picking and discerning scents and offending smells. It duly replied, “I have no idea how we got here. I feel like a part of the nether regions which must be covered all the time. I know I am to be wiped from time to time but never fully covered.” That is when it hit me that some body parts are not meant to be covered or hidden. 

My dear nose did acknowledge the love he felt at first when the mask mandate was instituted. He observed many other body parts have specialized wear — head wear, earplugs/muffs, headphones and of course the venerated sunglasses. Finally, it was time to show some appreciation for the noses.

I considered the history of clothing by going to the garden of Eden. Adam and Eve’s first wear made of leaves was not for the noses. When God knit that garment for them, it was not for the noses either.

When we consider the disruption from Covid-19, it is easy to forget small things like noses as we focus on the big consequential things like global chain supply, fuel, money, jobs, businesses, movement and isolation. This would be a good time to offer an apology to the nose.

Meanwhile, as we await that season of freedom to be declared, we should consider the disruption we deliberately inflict on ourselves and other body parts by exposing those that are meant to be covered. That way, we will each have a personal insight for why the noses had to go through the season of disruption.