GERMA & PHOBE

This is a true story.  The names of the germs have been changed to protect their privacy.

Two germaphobes simultaneously sit down at public computers side by side.  The germaphobes do not know each other.  They take out their sanitized towelettes and begin.  Like a synchronized dance they start meticulously wiping down the computer's keyboard, and desk area around the computer's keyboard.  They wipe in harmony.  It is hard to believe that their movements were not rehearsed.  They finish wiping at the same time, and produce a tissue to cover the mouse so there is no direct contact between their hands and the mouse.

For the sake of clarity, let's call one Germa, and the other Phobe.

Germa and Phobe sit down and start working at their computers.

                              Germa coughed.  Phobe winced.    
                              Phobe coughed.  Germa winced.
                              Germa sniffed.  Phobe sniffed.
                              Germa sneezed.  Phobe winced.
                              Phobe sneezed.  Germa winced.
                              Germa coughed.  Phobe winced . . . 

And so it continued with Germa and Phobe wincing as they spread their germs over their sanitized areas.  I could not believe that the whole incident wasn't rehearsed!

This show did not last too long before Germa got up and moved to another computer several desks away.  Phobe looked relieved.  Of course Germa went through the whole process of sanitizing the keyboard and desk area of his new computer.

Both Germa and Phobe continued to cough, sniff and sneeze in the comfort of their own sanitized space without wincing at each other.  Amen.


 

UNCONNECTED MUSINGS ABOUT THE NOT-WANTED TOP NEWSPAPER, AND GERMAPHOBES

A pile of newspapers -- free or for sale. 
How come most people don't take the one on top?  They reach for the second or third or forth or tenth, but refuse to take the nothing-wrong-with-it newspaper on the top.

Even when someone takes the newspaper on the top making the second newspaper the top newspaper, and people see this, they still won't take the former-second-from-the-top newspaper.  They feel that there is something wrong with this newspaper now that it is on top.  Perhaps there is.  Who knows?

Germs.  We need germs to help strengthen our immune system.  Yet most people are terrified of germs. 
 
I don't have a fear of germs.  Whatever does not kill me makes me a whiny sick guy with a stronger immune system.

I see the germaphobes at the public computers.  They take  a sanitized towelette and meticulously wipe down the computer's keyboard, and the desk area surrounding the computer keyboard over and over again.  They use a tissue to cover the mouse so there is no direct contact between their hands and the mouse. 

And then these germaphobes sit down to use the computer -- all the while coughing and sneezing and sniffling.  I have yet to see a germaphobe who hasn't coughed or sneezed or sniffled after sanitizing a computer.  And I aways think, "Perhaps if you allowed yourself some germs, then your stronger immune system may cut down on your coughs and sneezes and sniffles."