I was that person…
I have issues. Germs are my problem. I’m ok for the most part, but don’t touch my stuff. Or me. Before covid, I was in my neighborhood Target with my groceries on the conveyer belt thingy. The woman in front of me was having some sort of problem and was getting testy with the cashier. As the cashier moved the woman’s items from the conveyer belt the woman reached out and grabbed my creamer. She kept her hand on it even. All my insides came to the outside and I asked her (not so nicely) to stop touching my stuff. She kept her hand on my creamer and just stared at me. Once more (and louder) I asked her to stop touching my stuff and get her hand off my creamer. Still staring at me she let go. Everyone else was staring at me at this point also. I was that person.
Please don’t touch my food
Being a person with germ issues isn’t fun, and I’m sure sometimes I am no fun to be around. But I can’t help it. I can’t touch ketchup containers on tables in restaurants without a napkin to wrap around it. Or salt and pepper. I have people in my life that are allowed to touch my stuff and me, but it’s a very small list. There are definitely other people in my life that are on the unsafe list. You will never know which list you are on. If an unsafe list person touches me I don’t let them know it’s a problem, I just silently scream on the inside. Except once when someone touched the bread on the table and sliced it all, handling every piece. Then they handed it out. I was freaking out on the inside, declined the bread and asked the waiter for another for our end of the table. The next time they reached for the bread I yelled to “don’t touch the f*cking bread”. I think that got my point across. They don’t do that around me anymore. But it shouldn’t take that kind of reaction for someone to not touch food that others will consume. I know that probably the kitchen staff touched my food, but I didn’t see it. And if I don’t see it it’s not so much of a problem. I also understand that as food custodians, kitchen and wait staff need to keep their hands clean. I can’t second-guess everyone’s hygiene habits when I’m not around and would be in a constant state of distress if I did.
With covid in the picture, people are thinking twice about blowing out candles on birthday cakes. I have always had a problem eating cake that someone has blown on. It’s just gross to me. I can’t eat that. One of the owners of the company I worked for understood it was a problem for me. They started cutting a piece for the birthday person and just put the candle on that piece. Or remove the candle with their fingers and blow it out that way. It was nice that there was an understanding. I don’t always get that, and some people will just never understand.
I also have a super-sonic sense of smell. I can tell if you haven’t washed your hair, your body, or your clothes. It’s another thing I can’t help. I don’t eat meat, but my smeller can tell exactly what cut of beef is cooking. I didn’t ask for a sensitive sniffer, and would prefer not to have this particular superpower, but here we are. I’m the one who is asked to smell food to see if it’s turned, if there is a gas leak, or other stinky thing.
I don’t want to be that person
I’ll try not to react in such a disgusted manner if someone touches my stuff. Or me. It’s just now that we are in such an infectious time my reactions are a little worse. I just remember to keep space between me and the next person. Or go to self-checkout. That helps and is everywhere now, including my Costco. And while I am fully-vaccinated, the variants are especially transmissible. I would hate to get sick, or worse, infect someone I love. I don’t think I’d call myself a germaphobe (although someone else might), but they are definitely a problem.
Be safe, and please wash your hands…
