THE OBSERVATION BOOTH
OP / ED BY ANDREA DIALECT
NASTY * YUCKY * GROSS
Children find them to be a delicacy of sorts, I am told, because of the salty taste. Go figure!
I woke up today with crusty eyes, AKA eye boogers. As I wiped and scraped until those crumbles were no longer found, I became reminiscent. Ironically, it was then that I realized I hadn’t done such a thing in quite some time.
That’s when my itchy ear succumbed to the bobby pin after the Q-tip fumbled the job, and as the phlegm rose in my throat, it was whisked away by a substitute for a Kleenex. I was grateful for that Bounty paper towel. One sheet was easily consumed, and another was needed once my suspicion proved true.
Being nosey, I demanded another to make use of its strength rather than its absorption that time. Like a trooper, it cleared the nostril blockage, and finally, my air came through.
I had taken a break from my usual fasting, eating only at six daily while using H2O to hydrate and as a daily flush, is something I have been doing for quite some time. I must admit that I do take breaks from my daily routine here and there. But, this time, it was a lot longer than I’d like to admit, let’s just say it had been months.
Jumping back on this week as normal triggered the usual: blurred vision, body aches, fingernail blemishes, hot flashes, phlegm, itchy ears, tingling feet and toes, and equilibrium that is often a bit off. So I stump around wobbly like a penguin of sorts.
Resuming my weekly or daily doses of black seed oil is the ultimate hack for those bullies we call microorganisms when they opt to show up. They always do and Apple cider vinegar is another that went in swinging that one-two punch. Then there’s the Total Omega that I threw back like Homie downing a nip, when using it as a chaser.
My hiatus was a bit lengthy this time, and I now pay the price. As above, so below, it is an indisputable reminder that body consciousness is a must. We must listen to our bodies because they talk. This means less looking at others’ bodies during my favorite pastime, people-watching, and more time gazing at my own.
Even more so with all that is going on with the food today, we must adhere when our bodies do not speak. That’s what I really heard today. I learned that I have not been seeing enough soiled tissues, not enough hawking sounds making those awful musical notes, not enough waking up in the early AM with those big ol’ browns partly glued shut, and too many, way to many unused bobby pins utilized only for tresses, and all those Q-tips consuming shelf space for God sakes. Although sometimes, I tend to use them as tools for cleaning household messes.
My hygienic recall above is cleanliness made from heaven, I tell ya. Surely, something that I thought might be of use to someone else. Perhaps my recollections will stick in your head like glue does or my eyes when shut, or perhaps not. So, I thought I’d include something here that just might stick.
THEY CALL IT HYGIENE…
One day not so long ago, I was riding with someone I can’t remember who. As coming to a stop there, parked at the traffic light, was a beautiful car. I think it was an Infiniti or an Audi or something like that. But it was fire. I didn’t mention it to the driver because I was so happy to be in the passenger seat. So, I took it in all by myself. I beamed and smiled as I gave it a once and twice look over, and once again. Then, when we were neck to neck at idle, I looked over to peek into the car to see the person driving it.
And there she was, dressed to the nines, talking business, I suppose, as her mouth was in motion. We were there for a while because it was an exit off the highway. I was impressed but she never looked in our direction. There was a snobbiness about her by the way she sat.
Then it happened. She began digging in her nose for treasure, and oh boy, had she struck gold. I could tell by the way she placed her finger in her mouth, seemingly savoring every moment of that tasty delight. Logically, that’s when I mentioned it to the driver.
You can’t make this stuff up.
Next scenario, same difference, but this time I’m driving, and there it is, one of the hardest eighteen-wheelers I’d seen in a long time. It was all chromed out and red like a fire engine. Once again, the traffic light gave the directive, so we stayed put. There was another car between us because I could see clearly into the cab.
I was just about to say something to ol’ boy when unlike Miss Prissy, he wasted no time. He shoved that oversized finger in, grabbed a thang, and forcefully shoved it into his mouth. That finger was yanked out with a plop, just as quickly. Like I said, you can’t make this stuff up.
So you make the choice. You can spend those mornings or moments ridding yourself of those toxins that are or should come out. Or, if you choose, opt to swiftly push them back in when they come out. The choice is yours, and do remember how gross that choice can be, LOL!
DID YOU KNOW….
The scientific definition and medical term of:
BOOGERS – All boogers are made of dried out mucus. Our bodies produce mucus, a slimy substance that’s mostly water, salt and protective immune cells.
CRUSTY EYES – the crusty substance that accumulates in the corners of your eyes when you wake up in the morning is rheum. It’s also known as sleep crust, eye gunk, or eyeboogers. Rheum is a natural mixture of mucus, tears, and skin cells that occurs while you sleep because your eyes aren’t blinking to remove mucus. While it’s usually normal, a buildup of eye mucus and discharge can sometimes indicate something else is wrong.
PHLEGM – more than normal amount of thick mucus made by the cells lining the upper airways and lungs. A buildup of phlegm may be caused by infection, irritation, or chronic lung disease, and can cause discomfort in the chest and coughing.
EARWAX – cerumen (seh-ROO-mun). Earwax has some important jobs. It: acts as a waterproof lining of the ear canal, protecting it and the eardrum from germs that can cause infection. traps dirt, dust, and other particles, keeping them from injuring or irritating the eardrum.
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