She's an active blesser (Self, M)

[Morningsmith]

There's this coworker, who we'll call H. She's kind of a superior, but not directly my boss, and for months now I've had a mostly-platonic (ok, not that platonic) crush on her. She's about 50, with a certain relaxed gravitas. She listens, but she's deciding while she listens, if that makes sense. She has that way of gentle teasing that comes from natural authority, and just the loveliest ironic smile. She's about 5'10, so taller than me, with a build that's statuesque but gently curvy, dark blonde hair, quick grey eyes. She has blessed me a few times in the past, which has always been a thrill, but two episodes this week make me feel like she's developing the idea that I sneeze a lot. Which is so cringy and so enjoyable. Gosh.

So incident one, a few days ago: nobody really around the office. I am getting a coffee in the break room, and she comes in to put something in the microwave. We exchange some casual pleasantries and then go back to what we were doing. And then, fairly suddenly, I need to sneeze. I'm standing parallel to her, both of us facing a long counter, and all I 'really have time to do is turn the other way and release a double into the elbow of my sweater. At-CHIEW! HeSHEWw!

"Bless you," she says, gently but firmly. (love it!)

I respond with "thank you," but my voice wavers comically as another buildup flares. I'm still there turned to the side with my arm over my face. I gasp once, twice, and then it's gone.

"Did you lose one?" She asks.

Goodness, the chills. I try to act normal. I laugh, and say "always happens to me," which isn't even particularly true, but is all my spinning head could come up with. I bury myself in the task of getting a tissue and blowing my nose.

"That's so frustrating," she says, with this sort of chuckle I just can't describe. Oh my, does she lose sneezes too? Interaction over, but on replay in my mind!

And then this morning. A presentation has just ended, and we are breaking up into little chatty groups as people leave. I am talking with three other colleagues but the conversation is dying, and then I feel a slow tickle in my nose, and I don't want to sneeze in close quarters with them. So I excuse myself and go to the cloakroom where I've left my backpack. I'm trying to hold off the mounting sneeze until I'm away from people, and that works for a second, but as I leave the common space I am quite ready to release. The result is the kind of femme-dramatic sneeze I usually only allow myself in private:  HaaaaTSHHHIIIIIEW! I'm bent almost to the waist, over my backpack.

But I'm not alone. "BLESS you," she says, with understandable emphasis, turning the corner into the room with a look of friendly concern, or mild amusement, or something else yummy.  The exposure feels like a delicious electric shock: she's seen my total-disinhibition sneeze! And more are coming. This time I don't even try for the "thank you." I've only just got time to get my hanky out of my backpack (something new I'm trying in preparation for May allergies - we'll see if it sticks) before two more sneezes storm out of me. I manage not to diva them quite as hard as the first: HeddSCHEW! HetCHoo!

She chuckles that chuckle of hers. Letting exhilaration win over cringe, I try for a cutely exasperated "EX-CUSE ME!" and blow my nose. Now her eyes are off me, she's going for her purse or something, but sort of sighs and says "must be springtime?" I giggle. In fact I'm energized now it's hard to stop giggling, but what I manage is "Yes there is going to be a lot more of this from me." Saying which makes me want to giggle more.

"Aww," she says, "well bless you. Take care." And she's off. That parting "bless you," though, the extra-ness of that. I'm giddy with it.

[Hankie lover]

Trust me u will prefer using hankies instead of paper they r so much softer on your nose.

[Morningsmith]

2 hours ago, Hankie lover said:

Trust me u will prefer using hankies instead of paper they r so much softer on your nose.

They are indeed softer. I can't see using them during a cold because the hygiene issue troubles me, but for random sneezes or allergies. We will see, haha. Using one kind of makes me self-conscious, but as the obs probably makes clear, feeling self-conscious kind of does it for me, haha.

[SterlingSilver]

I always love your obs, Morningsmith!! They are so detailed and sweet 😄 relatable too LOL. I also really like being blessed, so I totally get the feeling of being both squirmy under the scrutiny but also enjoying it haha~ Both obs are so lovely ✨ Thanks for sharing!!

[Morningsmith]

23 hours ago, SterlingSilver said:

I always love your obs, Morningsmith!! They are so detailed and sweet 😄 relatable too LOL. I also really like being blessed, so I totally get the feeling of being both squirmy under the scrutiny but also enjoying it haha~ Both obs are so lovely ✨ Thanks for sharing!!

Look at me blushing ☺️This is so lovely! Thank you!

[Hankysneeze]

Love it! Bless you, nice to hear your using handkerchiefs. 

[Morningsmith]

On 4/24/2022 at 2:52 AM, Hankysneeze said:

Love it! Bless you, nice to hear your using handkerchiefs. 

Thank you! And yes, I'm enjoying them. I think that's going to be my plan this allergy season, which seems to be starting!