By Maryanna Gabriel
“Do your ears hang low
Do they wobble to and fro”
Do they wobble to and fro”
Campfire Song
The arrival of January found me in a compromising position having a
one-way conversation with my dentist as one is wont to do given their
propensity for stuffing metallic instruments into one’s mouth. He casually
mentioned that our noses and jowls grow as we age while our chin remains
static. The point he was making was lost on me as I stared at him in alarm. Contemplating
this I felt very much like I needed to rush home and memorize my nose in the
mirror. My goodness. Is it really growing? At what rate? Drooping appendages
are part of a continuous physical erosion one tries to monitor but how does one
do nose sit-ups or nose presses? Haunted by the prospect I tried to comfort
myself by saying a nose by any other name would smell as sweet, besides it
works doesn’t it? Gosh, so much to look forward to as one makes creakier
progression through the days. I plot further adventures before any more body
parts gravitate towards dropsy. I know it isn’t my dentist’s fault and not to
shoot the messenger or anything, but I immediately cancelled my next
appointment. So much to do so little time.