for Sarah, because she asked

...I have the occasional habit (IRL and on the Net) of occasionally beeping my friends' noses- a light touch of same* with an index finger, as I say "beep." This actually has three meanings, the applicability of which depends on context:

1) It's a generalized gesture of affection and respect.

2) It's a way of consoling someone who's hurting; of saying, "Yes, it _will_ be all right, even if it doesn't seem like it right this very second."

3) If there's ever been any bad feeling- or even simply the perception of same- between us, then after matters have been squared, a nose beep can mean, "Yes, it's forgiven; it's over. What's more, I'm not going to dig this matter up and throw it back in your face three years down the line when I'm pissed at you over something else- unless of course, you've simply done the same damn thing all over again."

...there. Also, I have a new hat (after calls to Penn Station and Harrisburg Amtrak lost & found proved fruitless); a size 8 black Stetson. Oh, and welcome to endogenousardor; it is doubtless due to the brain-stretching quantities of his posts and those of my other LJ friends that I need such a big hat :)

* It isn't always a nose touch- with one person, I beep her chin, because nose beeps remind her of someone who's gone. Also, some of my friends simply don't like hands in their personal space; in this case, simply meeting their gaze and saying "beep" has the same effect.>