I was working in New York at the airport in Westchester County. It was a busy little airport, and I had five gate agents to supervise on my shift. The job was very hectic, but I enjoyed it. All kinds of little emergencies would crop up forcing me to become a quick thinker. One afternoon, I was helping one agent with his paperwork. Training was also part of my duties. The agent was named Josh, and was sitting at his computer terminal. I was standing behind him watching him work, and giving directions. He would turn around and look up to ask me questions. I thought nothing of it.
My office was very busy most of the day. I hardly ever had a moment alone while there were active departures. Later on in the shift, Josh came up to my desk. We were the only two people in the room. He said to me, "CountryHam, can I ask you a question?" I said, "Sure, Josh, what is it?" He sat down and his face was very serious. "Is that a wire in your nose?" He asked. I quickly stifled a desire to chuckle before it could express on my face. I put the years of training to think quickly on my feet to work. Without pause, I said, "When I was very little I was in a car accident. I was not wearing my seatbelt, and my face smashed into the windshield. I had to have surgery, and something was placed in my nose so that it would retain it's shape." His eyes widened and he said, "Really!?!" I paused a moment, and said, "No. I just had my nose pierced." We both got a real good laugh out of it. I told him after that I didn't tell anyone at work because they would probably not understand or that they might treat me differently. He agreed not to tell anyone about it even thought I hadn't asked him to keep quiet about it. A short while after that, I changed the stainless ring I used as a retainer for a niobium one. The niobium one was black and not noticeable.