Now that I have my nose pierced I’ve developed a new obsession.  Buying “nose pins” as they’re called.  I’ve already bought six – 1 pink, 1 blue and 4 plain “diamond” ones.  Yep that’s right – four of the exact same.  And I fear I’m not done yet.  And I’ve still got another week to go before I can even remove the surgical steel one my Piercer put in!  I can’t tell you how many stores I’ve been in looking for different types and different colours.  It’s ridiculous.  Because all I ever intended on wearing was a tiny, sparkly “diamond” one.

It seems that even the purchase of such an item is a slightly mysterious event.  Almost “underground” if you will.  You could liken it to going to a head shop, or a sex shop, or one of those adult video stores (not that I know from experience, Mom – I’m simply imaging).  Because several of my trips to different costume jewelery stores at nearby malls went something like this:

ME: uh – hi.  Do you sell these little nose stud thingies (pointing to recently pierced nose)
Sales Clerk: (in hushed voice) what kind you looking for?

ME: um -  just the regular sparkly kind?
Sales Clerk: with the ball or no ball?

ME: ah – with a ball, I guess.  Why?  Which kind is better?
Sales Clerk: well that depends on what you like . . .

ME: okay, then with a ball please

(before continuing I should explain that a nose pin can have a little tiny “ball” or “nub” on the end of its “stick” which is what stops it from falling out of your nose.  There is no “butterfly” like on an earring to hold it in there.  But you can also get them without the ball.  Just a plain stick that you could then bend to a 90 degree angle – again to stop it from falling out of your nose.  But I think that would be uncomfortable, so I’m just going to stick with the ball-type that my piercer set me up with from the get go)

Sales Clerk: what colour?
ME: what colour do ya got . . .

She then proceeds to bend down behind the sales counter, slide open a drawer, and bring out many mini cases with many little nose pins in each.  Now you may think “oh – these are probably expensive little items and thus the need for keeping them locked up behind the counter.”  No.  They cost about $4 each.  Or $9 for the expensive surgical steel variety.

So why all the hush-hush?  And why do I keep buying more????