Don't Know If My Clients Will Get the Fist Bump

I'm beginning to wonder if I've become a germaphobe. Maybe it's all this talk about hand sanitizers, antibacterial wipes, sanitizing sprays, etc., during this so-called flu epidemic, but I don't know.

I think I've been coming to this for a long time. I've had hand sanitizer in my bag forever but seldom used it, and I always have wipes in the console of my car because I am on the road a lot and sometimes eat on the run.

I have always had a problem with dirty hands. I'm not good with finger food. It's a wonder that I can even eat a sandwich. I always have to have two napkins; one in my lap and one for my hands and mouth.

When I started in real estate I had to learn to shake hands more easily. I got used to it and now it's usually second nature. Until recently. I don't reach first as often. Of course, if someone offers their hand, I readily shake it. And then discretely run to wash my hands as soon as possible.

But let me tell you what has been going on. I read before going to sleep every night as I lay in bed. The other night as I turned the page of the library book, there between the pages was a short, black hair! Holy crap. But before I could get up to get rid of it, it fell out! I had my robe over me on the bed which I carefully lifted up and shook out. That robe went right into the laundry basket. Ewwwww, I was so grossed out!

I think it's time for a Kindle. The problem is that I don't buy many books. But I'm starting to rethink library books. I definitely get up and wash before going to sleep after reading. Of course with the Kindle you have to buy the downloaded books which I'm not crazy about.

Back to my germaphobia. As I said I do carry hand sanitizer and have begun to use it regularly. Something else that freaks me out is restaurant menus. As soon as I pass the menu back to the waiter, I either go to the ladies room to wash or use the sanitizer. Who knows what's on those menus!?

Let's see, what else? My bed. No pets have ever slept in or even ON my bed. I've only had one cat and she used a litter box......major ewwwww. Don't even get me started about people who let cats on their counters and tables.

There's no getting between the sheets in anything that sat on a couch or chair either. Absolutely not. Paul humors me on that but he generally doesn't sit on the couch in what he wears to bed anyway. You figure it out.

However, he does have occasional lapses in judgement. A few weeks ago before we fell asleep he jumped up, went downstairs and into the garage. I have no idea what he was doing but when he came back into the bedroom, I asked..."Did you go into the garage barefoot?" He had, and he said so. I immediately said "you can't get back into bed with THOSE feet!" Rather than argue with me he went into the bathroom and washed them. Good man.

When he got back into bed, I mumbled...."Men, not much better than barnyard animals....."