Pickles by Brian Crane for July 31, 2021

Yeah. who wants to carry around a snot rag that’s been USED? Bleugh.

you’re welcome, Nelson

Is it monogrammed?

I started learning how to iron on my daddy’s handkerchiefs. They were always a good cheap father’s day gift when we were young.

If Earl ever had an affair could we say that he was involved in hanky panky? (But seriously, he would not do that to Opal!)

Handkerchiefs date back to the days before the invention of ‘Kleenex’ ©…

I use my shirt sleeve.

Less convenient than your sleeve but more socially acceptable.

There is nothing wrong with a handkerchief that can’t be resolved by laundering in hot water, detergent, and bleach.

Nelson remember to cover up when you sneeze ;-)

Snot something I was longing for, Grandpa!

Snot rags were de riguer when I was growing up!

My Dad used one up til he passed in 2012. He’s been living g in assisted living since ‘09 with my Mom. The assisted living place (at an extra fee) did their laundry, which included Dad’s handkerchiefs. As with all of their clothes, we only had to use a market on a hidden area so they knew where the clothing went, once washed, dried, and folded. Thanks for that walk down memory lane (sincerely).

At least be appreciative that out of the kindness of his heart that he gave you something, Nelson!

Opal keeps her pots and pans in a locked cupboard, and she won’t tell Earl where the key is. That’s because she has a no hankie pan key policy…

When I was teaching 2nd grade. . .many, many, many moons ago . . .I offered a kleenex to one of my kids with a nose problem. She just looked at me and said, " But, Miss B, I don’t have enough to blow. I only have enough to sniff!"

OMG! Before Kleenex was in vogue, that’s the only thing people had was handkerchiefs! Monogramed, lace edges ….etc. ……better than wiping in on your sleeve or let it run down your lip….

Someday Nelson you’re going to really love that handkerchief and remember fondly when your Grandpa gave it to you.

Just be grateful it’s a CLEAN one, Nelson…

Let’s snot be unreasonable people.

In my youth (many moons ago) I always carried a handkerchief with me. I can’t recall when I stopped. Probably around my last year in high school (1966). I have some handkerchiefs in my sock/underwear drawer, but I never use them.

Strange coincidence. Just before reading this, I grabbed a tissue for my nose. I thought of my mother, who didn’t like hankies: You wipe your nose with a handkerchief, you have possibly infectious something in your pocket. She said it is more sanitary to use a tissue, and dispose of the tissue right away, after a single use.

In high school, the science teacher gave us an in-class assignment: We were given petri dishes with agar, a probe with a wire loop, and a lighter. We would heat the loop, to sterilize it, and let it cool. We would then use it to collect a sample and transfer it to the agar. We went around the school to collect samples from different places. The agar would help any bacteria in our sample to grow. To my surprise, no bacteria grew from a sample of snot.

Nelson does not seem to be thankful for anything.

I suppose they had value before the perfection of soft tissue paper. But how disgusting to use over and over. Imagine washing the snot out before automatic washers. Guess it beats the alternatives to TP, when some used reusable natural sponges on a stick to wipe the nether regions.

It is said that Napoleon ordered those massive sleeve buttons added to military uniforms to discourage the troops from using their sleeves to wipe their noses.

I carry napkins in my back pocket whenever I go out – Just “Blow ’n Throw”.

I keep a roll of toilet paper on the kitchen table to use as napkins and to blow my nose.

If you are a REAL snotty person carry a box of tissue. If you dab all the time a handkerchief works well-clean one every day- – do laundry then.

That’s some grandpa tech right there

Don’t worry, Nelson, it’s a clean one … I hope!

I’m imagining Nelson continuing to wipe his nose with the back of his hand, then using the handkerchief to wipe his hand …