I myself never say those well-known customary words when another utters an explosive, high-pitched snort. I don’t know why I don’t. Maybe it’s because I am not comfortable with the religious connotations the words “bless you” hold. But, if this were true, I could easily substitute the phrase for the German word “Gesundheit,” which wishes the sneezer “good health.” More likely, it’s because I am a firm believer in saying what I mean at all times. I don’t mean “bless you,” I don’t wish a figment’s blessing upon you just because you were able to spout mucus out of your nostrils. I don’t mean “excuse you,” you just interrupted my paper-writing because you couldn’t control a damn sneeze. I really don’t wish you “good health,” I could care less if you catch cold just as long as you don’t spread it to me.
But, I always have had the words said to me. A good portion of the time, if I sneezed in public, there was someone there to pardon me from my infraction—whether it be a pastor, a classmate, or my grandma using the German version in her heavy accent.
Today was the first time that I have sneezed in public on campus and no one has said, “Bless you!” I had just sat down in the computer lab, opened my browser, and without delay a sharp, quick, particularly tickle-y and particularly loud sneeze issued from my nasal passages. There were several other students in the lab, but none said a word, let alone looked up from their mountainous math equations. It was a lonely feeling, not having anyone to at least pretend to wish you well.
That is why, from here on out, I propose that I adopt new action to extend to other sniffle-ridden students. During cold and flu season, I will carry personal-sized tissues and hand sanitizer with me at all times. In the event that someone around me sneezes, I can simply hand them the goods and say, “Here, clean yourself off and then go buy some chicken noodle soup and OJ so your germs are out of my proximity.”
No comments:
Post a Comment