Supermarkets are the greatest places to people-watch, especially while standing in line waiting to pay for your groceries. Ive observed some anthropological phenomenon that may surprise you. The most interesting beingare you readythe difference among women, men, and guys with nasal drip.

With spring weather comes colds, and allergies, which are accompanied with a watery discharge often called a runny nose. How people deal with that makes for amusing observation. While standing in line, which I often do, I watched three types of Homo sapiens in various stages of nose blowing. This is what I observed:

Women: When a woman has a runny nose she discreetly removes a clean, pressed handkerchief from her purse, quietly blows her nose so as not to draw attention to her situation, and replaces the hanky back inside her purse.

Men: When a man has a runny nose he pulls a wad of tissue out of his back pocket and blows into it, sounding like a honking gander during mating season. He proceeds to tuck the soggy Kleenex back into the recesses of his jeans pocket where it will stay buried until his wife has to do the laundry. At which time, said piece of tissue turns all the dark clothes and black socks into an unrecognizable pile of lint.

Guys: When a guy has nasal drip he keeps it simple. One of two things happens; he lets his nose drip or he wipes his nose on his sleeve.

Be observant as you do an anthropological hunt through the grocery store observing the habits of Homo sapiens. Its more fun than Disney World.

Copyright 2006 by Pamela Beers. All rights reserved.