When my daughter was eleven she and her best friend got
their ears pierced together. They were
giggly and excited and feeling very grown up as we arrived at the mall. Natalie started looking nervous when she was
picking out the earrings that would be used to pierce her ears. She squeezed my hand when the moment
came. Her earlobes were bright red when it was
over, but her smile was huge.
Some think earlobes may help warm the ears and maintain
balance, but most studies show that ear lobes are soft, fleshy, bulbous
appendages with no major functional purpose.
They are filled with nerves and considered an erogenous zone. They may be kissed, licked, or nibbled in
love. They may be pierced, gauged, or
stretched.
Earlobes are torn often enough that earlobe repairs are
considered a common surgery. They stretch
over time due to the weight of earrings or just due to age. Earlobe lifts are available just like face
lifts or breast lifts to tighten pendulous flesh and disguise the passage of
time.
Carole Burnett used to close her shows by tugging on her
earlobe- a secret message to her beloved grandmother. Earlobes with expensive diamond earrings can
send the message of wealth. In some
areas of the world the longer your earlobes have been stretched is a sign of
status. Earlobes can be pierced multiple
times or gauged as a sign of non-conformity.
Earlobes can be pierced as a rite of passage.
Karla, I enjoyed your walk through the world of earlobes. Nice exposition on the facts and uses of the lobe. "They are filled with nerves and considered an erogenous zone. They may be kissed, licked, or nibbled in love. They may be pierced, gauged, or stretched." my favorite part.
ReplyDeleteMy only critique is the last paragraph seems rushed to the end. Possibly extend the last sentence to bring the reader back to the beginning paragraph.
I don't have my ears pierced, but I had a very easy time relating to the emotions in the first paragraph, which I think is great.
ReplyDeleteThe ending seemed to just cut off to me. I was not given the wrapped up ending or closure I might have liked.
Good grief! You truly opened my eyes to the wonders, cultural norms, and functions of the earlobes. It was seriously so interesting. I liked that you began with a personal story. It hooked us. The facts were given in a way that wasn't boring or statistical. This really does make someone think about something so simply as an earlobe. Loved it!
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