As we all know, "render unto Caesar the things that are Caesars, and unto God the things that are God's". It's little known to most of us, but the speech went on to say, "render unto germs the things that are germ's". Germs holy mission is to attack and infect. And what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. If you get sick and survive you get stronger. If you counterattack and avoid you get weaker, like a hothouse plant. The germs, meanwhile, learn to defeat the countermeasures, hand sanitizers included. You should not avoid shaking hands and kissing. In fact, you should seek them out. When you get old do you want to have to stay in a sterile environment because any ordinary germs now have the power to kill you?

Excellent piece, my wife just came down with a cold, I am resisting the urge to quarantine her like the "Boy in the Plastic Bubble".

History:

Why are you resisting that urge? Sounds pretty reasonable to me.

For years before I had my shoulder replaced, a handshake was extremely painful. As soon as someone started the pre-handshake stride, I'd put my hands up in front of me and say "Don't touch me!" My doctor once responded "Very good move! Do that even after your replacement...'fist bumps' are much healthier." So Regardless of the time of year, I'm a fist-bumper, when it's necessary at all.

That which does not kill you makes you stronger. Exposure to germs and catching a cold now and then boosts your immunity, both specific and nonspecific. Getting vaccinated when such are available also helps.

All you job applicants on inerviews: take Mr. Lehigh's advice.  And, as an added precaution, don't make eye contact with your interviewer either.  Tears, mucous, and aqueous humour have their ways of atomizing and migrating eyeball to eyeball.  I advise applicants to wear gloves and protective goggles.  These protective gear also help prevent contamination from Great Aunt Dolly.

The dumbest thing you've ever written.

At first glance the irony escaped me, the funniest thing you've ever written.

Sid: Maybe it's both ...

I don't know if this is parody or for real. If it is for real, then Scot would be in the company of Donald Trump and Howard Hughes. Not known to be the most rational of people.

Pvalen:

I wouldn't mind being in the same tax bracket as those worthy gentlemen ...

When was the last time you (Mr. Lehigh) had the flu?

It's been some years now, because I get a flu shot and am very careful in flu season -- but I have to say, the last time I caught it, I hardly got out of bed for eight days. It was really brutal. You?

When you are out and about this winter, wear gloves. At this time, no one minds shaking hands with a gloved person and it is fairly protective vs. door handles, shopping carts etc. There are even gloves that have special fingertips to allow you usage of digital devices. Most importantly, viruses are not very durable. Everything affects them and one threat to their lifespan is fabric. They don't do well with cloth or leather and are very difficult to transmit from either. Now poison ivy/oak is another matter, but that's for springtime!

Why don't you tell the governor to keep his hands out of our wallets! His buddy Barack already put his his in my wallet and I am sick over that!!! The governor will have both his hands in them!!!! We are all getting sick of that!!!

Badman: You'd better hope that he doesn't slap a tax on exclamation points. (!!!)

Sawmill: Believe me, I do.

Don't give him any ideas

I carry a small bottle of gelled alchohol wash and use it often, especially when I shake hands. 

That's not a bad idea, particularly in flu season ...