Hey! Have you heard? There is a disease out there that could wipe out entire populations!
Just kidding. However, if we were to listen to the hype regarding the H1N1 virus, we are on the verge of a epidemic of epic proportions.
Great, yet another reason my fear of communicable diseases can run a muck.
As a leukemia survivor I can attest to the fact that germs were in deed a life threatening reality. During chemo my immune system was wiped out completely. Considering leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells (germ killers) this was a necessary treatment. So, for two weeks after each treatment I lived in a virtual bubble. We even sent the cat to stay with relatives during all of this. Given my obsession with cats and that this cat was my childhood pet, I hated that.
But back to the topic.....somehow, during that time, being careful about picking up germs flipped the switch on my germ phobia. Now, I realize I have a mild version of it. I can ignore it most of the time. Put me next to someone who is sniffing, coughing, sneezing and I want to run in horror, screaming. Any mention of bodily fluids related to said actions and I want to hurl. I get a bit woozy actually.
Enter the "swine flu" hype. Since I am a teacher in a rather large public school, there is bound to be a sick child or two or 20 who think they might have this particular bug. We hadn't really had any suspicious reports though. Our administration is doing a wonderful job of providing antibacterial wipes, hand sanitizer, etc. I was SO excited the first day I went to the cafeteria and found the hand sanitizer automatic dispenser. FANTASTIC idea. I even was extremely happy to take the wipes installed in the computer lab and wipe down the computers.
However....when I came back to the choir room, there was an e-mail urging us to help keep the hype to a minimum. I try, really I do. In many situations I attempt to be the voice of reason. But today that crazy voice inside my head was yelling "SHE'S LYING!!!! SHE DOESN'T REALLY BELIEVE WHAT SHE'S SAYING!!!"
And then the school nurse came to my room to tell me to be extremely cautious about sharing pencils, pens, tissues, etc. with my students. uh oh. Does that mean there is a student of mine who has it or is being tested for it??? I asked, didn't get a clear answer. Its possible that this lovely lady was just attempting to take care of me considering my health history. She has been known to drag me to her office to get the flu shot. But after our conversation I was afraid to touch the door and the piano and the computer and the phone and.....you get the idea. I guess I'll be investing in gallons of hand sanitizer.
Oh, wait, there was just a teaser for tonight's news broadcast "Which hand sanitizers DON'T work against the swine flu, tonight at 11."
Thanks. a lot. really.
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