Over the Hill on the Yellow Brick Road, I noticed an elderly nose limping along with a suitcase. I caught up with her and started a conversation.
Hey nose, where are you going?
NOSE: I’m outa here. I’m leaving Over the Hill on the Yellow Brick Road. I need to move on. I don’t know what else is out there for me, but I need to find it. If not now, when? But…I’m scared.
Scared about what?
NOSE: About not being blessed.
Huh?
NOSE: Here’s the thing. I’ve always been around others who know me. They bless me every time I sneeze. I’ve had so much emotional support in my life Every time I sneeze, someone says “Bless you!” And when I’m stuffed, I hear, “Bless you! Bless you! Bless you! Bless you!” Constantly! I’ve become dependent on it.
I can see how that could happen.
NOSE: But! You know when NO ONE blesses me? When I’m in a place where I don’t know anybody! Like, let’s say I’m on a random bus or train, or in an elevator. If I sneeze, no one blesses me because they don’t know me! Or…if I sneeze and people do say “bless you,” they mumble it awkwardly, like they’re not sure if they should have said it in the first place. I know that’s gonna happen again and again and again if I’m not with others I know! I won’t be blessed!
Maybe you should trust the silence. And trust your instincts even if you’re not feeling supported or blessed.
NOSE: What makes you so sure about all this stuff?
Because I’m going through the same thing, but I’m one step ahead of you. As I’m growing older, when I want to try something new, I’m finding I don’t care as much if other people don’t “bless” what I’m doing or approve of it. Maybe it’s just something that happens with age.
NOSE: You think so?
Maybe. I mean, these days, if someone doesn’t like something I’ve written, or painted, or what I’m wearing, I listen to what that person has to say. But then, I think to myself, “Maybe there’s no right or wrong answer here. Maybe we’re just two different people in two different ‘places’ in the universe at the moment. Our perspectives are different, but there’s room for both in the world.”
NOSE: I see your point.
If I feel centered in what I’m doing, I’m not as afraid.
NOSE: You must be in therapy.
You know? Maybe you and I are blessed in a different way.
NOSE: How?
Maybe we’re blessed that we have the freedom, time and health to go out in the world and experience it differently. It’s a privilege. It’s a different kind of blessing.
NOSE: I can get into that. Thanks for the suggestion.
You’re very welcome.
NOSE: Haaa-chooooo!
Should I say it?
Copyrightoverthehillontheyellowbrickroad2017
____________________________________________________________________________________________
A delight.It set me on a thought spiral of thinking about our reactions to others’ sneezes and why the compulsion to acknowledge it. Or why we stifle our sneezes at times so as to avoid human interaction! It is one of few times of vulnerability when we are in public, a spasm of utter lack of control! Hey I like what you are doing here! Now I will look into the archives and see what I have been missing out on . . .
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aaaah, thank you! Nice to meet a fun person like you who appreciates silliness and the deeper thoughts behind it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
bless you
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha!!!!!!!!!!!
LikeLike
Fun allegory and at no time did you “blow” it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha! Snort snort!
LikeLike
I’m blessed because I had the courage to take a leap into the unknown 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
And look at all the beauty that has come from it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cute, very comical. 🙂 Bless You.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. I’ll take all the blessings I can get. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, here’s another for old time’s sake. God Bless you! 🙂
LikeLike
Oh thank you! Very, very much!!!! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha ha…a good one here. But I find that I say “bless you” to strangers, any nose in my proximity !
And yes, for me, with every year that goes by, I care less about the opinion of others, choose to please myself. One of the perks of getting older, I’d say.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I admire your “bless you” bravery. I’m one of those who isn’t sure if I should say “bless you” to strangers. You set a shining example for all noses.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, bless you for writing this post, Cathi.
LikeLike
Oh thank you! It’s an honor to be blessed by you. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
“we’re blessed that we have the freedom, time and health to go out in the world and experience it differently. It’s a privilege. ”
Perfect!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLike
Fun reading this. I just noticed that I either say God Bless You or Bless You to strangers. Does it make a difference? Now you made me think about this. 🤔. Ha.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just checked with “the nose” and she said she’ll take a “bless you” with or without God. So you’re good. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bless you !! Go on, say it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
But I’m trying not to be enabling. LOL
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hear a sneeze, I bless the person, for whatever it’s worth, and I feel I took care of one of the little things I can do to keep the world in balance, so then we all got something out of it! I agree, getting older, it’s freeing. At least for me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll remember your words about always saying bless you to a sneeze. Lovely sentiment and changes my perspective.
LikeLiked by 1 person
True, there is no right or wrong in many aspects of our lives. My mother had decided that at 50, she was entitled to say what she wanted and didn’t care about other’s opinions anymore. It didn’t always turn out well, as I’m sure you recall, but I guess it freed her!! Hopefully most of us are “blessed” with the wisdom and sense to know what is most appropriate, given our life experiences and learned or inherent sensitivity! “Bless you” is so automatic, whether we believe in a higher power or not! Sneezes cause us to stop breathing, so I’m happy to be blessed to take another breath!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Karen! About determining what’s right or wrong, I think the real challenge is listening to what others have to say, seriously considering it, and finding some kind of balance between meaningful thoughts from others and what works for us. And I agree, we should all be blessed every time we sneeze!! 🙂
LikeLike
I had a big broad grin after reading this one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That makes me so happy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our noses are truly the most blessed thing we have!! 🤧. Bless you
LikeLike
This is genius. I laughed out loud and it touched my heart. SO moving and clever!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Barbara! You know your comments and responses mean so much to me.
LikeLike
Yes, having someone’s blessing is nice, but not at all necessary. The best part of aging is the confidence we get to follow our own instincts and trust our own judgements. (Almost makes up for all those sags and wrinkles….almost!)
LikeLike
Ha ha! I agree! Though sometimes I’m self conscious about being older, I do marvel at the wisdom and perspective that comes with it.
LikeLike
L love this post. I wonder what the nose was running from… if the nose runs and the feet smell, you’re probably upside down.
Go on, say it… the old ones are the best.. 🙂
LikeLike
Ha ha! 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hahaha! I think we should adopt the phrase from Seinfeld when someone sneezes – especially as we get older. “You’re so good looking!”
LikeLike
Ha ha! Definitely!
LikeLike
This is a good way to think of things, to not care as much what other people say. I, too, have noticed that I have less tolerance for B.S. as I get older!
LikeLike
I guess letting go of BS comes with wisdom over time.
LikeLike