Brain Fart #428 - The Pick

"Mommy, a booger!" she shows me excitedly on her index finger.

Lovely.

I was reading an article in this month's issue of Today's Parent magazine, which talks, coincidentally, about this stage of 3 - 5 year olds when they like to pick their nose. They say it's not uncommon, and the reality is that most adults pick their nose too. Only usually with a tissue and behind closed doors. Kids usually grow out of the habit.

Or sometimes not.

The other day, I was at a three-way stop when an older woman drove up to the intersection on my left. Unfortunately she stopped before me, so she had the right-of-way. I say unfortunately for two reasons. The first of which was what I noticed right off the bat (because I always try to make eye contact at these intersections to make sure people DO REALLY KNOW their right-of-way rules). Mistake.

Because she was picking all right, not just a scratch, no, there was clearly some major excavation going on, along with flicking.

Ugh.

Unfortunate reason number 2? I had to follow her along the residential road, which had a 50 km/h speed limit for most of the way. Little lady pick, though, was driving at a snail's pace, 20 km/h if that. I could not pass her because of oncoming traffic. So I had to bear it for about 4 stop signs before she finally made a turn.

I can barely handle bad drivers on a good day. But bad drivers who are spending their time picking their nose when they should be focusing on the road? When I'm in a rush to drop off work at the printers in time to meet my 11:30 AM gym class?

Sure, pickers are people too...


But when it comes to road safety, I think that nose-picking should be banned in cars along with the cell phones. If for nothing else, to prevent distractions for other drivers. Safety first, right?