With my ever-runny nose and tendency to cry rather easily, I make sure that a handkerchief is always within reach.

Handkerchiefs remind me of days past when nearly everyone had one on his or her person. For carrying around essentially snot-soaked fabric, they really had something going there. Not only was it proper to have handkerchiefs, but it was also very clever. They serve so many purposes; it doesn’t make sense to me why I don’t see more hankie-wielding folks around.

Handkerchiefs are:

Durable and re-usable. There is hardly a Kleenex that hasn’t seen the wrath of my nose-blowing abilities. Unfortunately, that means that I use up to three or four tissues just to blow my nose. I’d blow once, inevitably tearing through the tissue, and I’d need another one to clean my snotty hand and still another one to wipe the remnants off my face. Not pretty.

Eco- and budget-friendly. My hankie, on the other hand, is able to withstand the great force spewing forth from my nose. My hands remain dry, I don’t create further waste and essentially throw money away by requiring more tissue.

Multi-functional. My faithful hankie is always around when I’m in a jam: I’ve used it as a makeshift bib for my son. It’s cleaned up spills and messes, including makeup smudges on my face. Even just the sight of it has brought me comfort whenever I feel my eyes welling up in emotional situations; it’s been a security blanket of sorts.

Sure, handkerchiefs are old-fashioned. And, yes, I’m glorifying a napkin; but it’s certainly a classy one that makes sense. We could all use a little classiness in our lives anyway.