This past Saturday, I found myself at a religious center, praying. I try not to pray for myself, or for winning the lottery, because that is just selfish. So I pray for those in my life that need help more than me. I think that is fair. I was seated behind two middle aged women. The one on the right seemed to have a cold. She was coughing, sneezing, and so on. The woman next to her had given her a dirty tissue (I knew it was dirty because it was already crumpled in a ball before she handed it over for re-use), which she used to blow her nose and wipe her hands. Gross, I know, but it gets worse (for me).
During this religious experience, there comes a time when everyone in the room customarily shakes hands with those in hand shaking distance, a way of greeting each other and saying hello. Unfortunately for me, I had what appeared to be a sick person, with snot on her hands, and no way of avoiding hand contact without appearing rude, inconsiderate, and out of place. I sat there in contemplation, how do I remove myself from this situation? Hmmm. I thought, maybe I should just get up and leave before the handshake comes. That would work. But, I went there for prayer and reflection, not to run away from a handshake. So I was stuck with snot lady.
And so it happened. Snot lady appeared to revel in knowing she had filthy hands and was sharing her filth with me. She nodded in a way that I took to mean, I know how gross this is, I hope you enjoy it. Well, I didn’t. Here is what I did do though. Luckily for me, shortly after the hand shaking ceremony, the services come to completion. From dirty handshake to end of service, I did not touch that hand, I did not allow my hand to touch me or any of my clothing….it was cast aside like a dirty tissue until I could get to a sink to scrub it religiously.
Just down the street one block, thank God, there was a McDonalds. I rushed over, had to be buzzed into the bathroom…guess they have issues with patrons and bathrooms there, and washed and washed and washed. I finally felt clean again. As I exited this high security restroom, a man approached, and in a hushed voice, said “excuse me sir, dvd, video game?” I had no idea what he said because he said it so softly, so I politely asked him to repeat himself, which he did, at which point I understood him to be a bootlegger in the McDonalds….I declined, and left the establishment.
My thoughts and prayers go out to those still suffering from Hurricane Sandy.
