Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Everything is Coming Up Noses


Three days ago I went into a local deli to have a sandwich. Quite ordinary. But I had stayed in my apartment for three day so I was more than thrilled to see so many people at once. I was about to start singing “People…, people who need people…” when my number was called up. It was number 433 if you’re interested in that kind of thing. I couldn't help but notice that the very affable guy who gave me my pastrami on rye sandwich had an extraordinary nose. It was very large and looked perfectly fine for his face. It made me think about noses in general. For some strange reason I can never distinguish between a Roman and a Greek nose. So as soon as I got home I did a little research on the Internet. The Greek nose is straight and the Roman nose looks like a hook. Then I stumbled upon a PDF of an early 20th century books that not only classifies types of noses but also gives you a psychological profile of its owner. So I learned about the Celestial nose (concave) and the Snub nose (short). The first belongs to the inquisitive and the latter to the mischievous. Total poppycock (I finally got a chance to write that funny word!), but entertaining poppycock (I did it again!) at that. I also got some literary information about the subject. There is a character in Laurence Stern’s Tristam Shandy who owned a personal library that included all the books that have been written on the subject of noses. I do not claim to have a literary nose. In fact I realized I am the proud owner of a hybrid nose. Not the green kind that runs on ethanol but a straight one that turns up slightly at the tip. That would make me an impertinent cheerful outgoing introspective man. Such are the revelations of my nose. So I very humbly ask my fellow bloggers: What type of nose do you own?

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Well after reading that I have the definitive Greek nose and funnily enough so does my partner!!
Fun post..thank you!

Keri said...

I have my dad's nose! But I don't know where to start to classify it!

How was your sandwich?

Tess Kincaid said...

Hmm, and I always thought a Roman nose was just big! I find this kind of thing very intriguing. I have a small version of my father's nose. Straight, not too big, not too small and it turns down slightly, just ever so slightly, on the end.

I hope you say it's the nose of a queen or duchess and not of a witch.

Ruby Isabella said...

My nose is small, black and wet (when I'm healthy.)

High Desert Diva said...

Poppycock...(I wanted to use that word, too.)

Not Roman, or Greek. Not Celestial or Snub.

A mix, or a muddled nose for this hybrid.

Fun post...must re-read Cyrano now...

A Cuban In London said...

I loved you post because I, too, have a fetish regarding noses. In fact I have often told my wife that one of her more beautiful attributes is her Spanish nose which she inherited from her Dad (Gibraltarian and with roots in Andalucia).

Thanks for such a beautiful post.

Greetings from London.

Jo said...

I definitely have a Greek nose. Well, I have always been told it was "Gaelic". It is straight, straight, straight.

(I read your comment on my post about Synesthesia, and I agree with all of your observations! Amazing, hey?)

BTW, when I was a little girl, because of my nose, my nickname was sometimes "Johanna banana". :-)

Anton said...

Do you have a link to that pdf file?

Raph G. Neckmann said...

I really don't know what mine is - what would you say?

The lady in Red said...

Pink Cowboy, reading your interesting text made me analyse my "potato nose", as far as Brazilian culture is concerned...

Best wishes

larkspur said...

My nose is a lot Dutch, a little Scot-Irish, and a little German. What does that say about me? Only my nose knows....

The Pink Cowboy said...

This "nosey" post has truly revealed a plethora (I always liked to use that word too!) of responses. My allergies are back and for all I know my hybrid Greek-Celestial nose is now a Runny nose.

Kaye Waller said...

I've always been told that I have an English nose, prominent and straight.

This post is so fun that I linked it on my blog, along with a picture of my nose!

Susan said...

I think my nose is tres ordinaire - unremarkable and noticed by few. I realized however, by reading this most interesting post, that I do find myself from time to time very much admiring the "strong nose".

cheers from NS, xo S.

Lynda Lehmann said...

I confess to having no insight whatsoever on my nose-type. But I must admit that the ski-jump hill in the middle of it gives me cause for speculation. Perhaps it's intrusiveness spells out something about my personality that other people can define, but not I.

I will be sure to let you know if I learn anything of value about the configuration of my nose and nares! lol...

Unknown said...

I have a generic nose...I suppose you'd call it greek nose. I came by way of the incurable insomniac by the way. Enjoy your blog.

Anonymous said...

PC,
I would say I have a straight Greek nose. Somewhere, maybe those Greeks wondered into Scot-Irish territory. Great post!
The Bach