Let’s Get Dirty

    I realize that in my zeal to be prepared for every disease/disaster known to man, I have become a germaphobe. I have been accused (rightly so) of carrying everything but the proverbial kitchen sink in my purse just in case. You never know when you might need a band-aid, tweezers, a wet-wipe, floss, toothpaste, a sewing kit, and so on.  I have always been the one to have wet wipes to clean my hands after pumping gas to get the gas smell off my hands and of course who knows what else????

The path from my front door to the kitchen sink is well worn because it has been  non stop; as that is the first thing I do when I get home is to WASH MY HANDS!!!  I realize that a certain amount of hygiene is necessary and I admit it freaks me out like Seinfeld if I see waitstaff  come out   of a stall and  not wash their hands in the ladies room!  But I am calling a truce on myself.  Now that I am  working in the school that I am has opened my eyes.  The students are surrounded with antibacterial soap and antibacterial gel to clean their hands  every time they turn around. It’s a wonder the little darlings  don’t glow because of it!   Teachers practically bathe in the stuff.  UV lights light up the room and hallways.  Kids are issued wet wipes to wipe down toys and desks.   I’m surprised they are not issued surgical masks along with their uniforms.  Even the grocery stores are getting in on the act and now dispensing antibacterial wet wipes to wipe down your grocery cart handles in case they are deemed to “dirty” by you.  Come on folks, are we really that freaked out by a little dirt?  I must have been.  I realize how hostage my fears of germs had taken me when I became too picky to eat at salad bars, disliked shaking hands with people and really did not like eating food from people that had been prepared I didn’t know all that well.  I knew it had gotten pretty bad when at dinner one night to celebrate a family dinner, a loved one blew his nose, a faux paux for me and I quickly lost my appetite.  In retrospect, I realized, what was worst, the faux paux, or not ever being with my loved one? I realized quickly that even if it was a little gross, it was common in many cultures to do this, if not in our own.  Our country is so hung up on cleanliness, to the tune of a 400 billion dollars and yet we have a growing problem with MRSA, and other bacteria resistant to antibiotics.  Maybe we need to step back and embrace a little dirt.

I remember when dirt was my best friend.  When chicken pot pies actually came in tin foil pans, we got to mix dirt and water to make….MUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It was great!  We had mud pies, mud cakes and put all sorts of accouterments such as leaves and twigs for relish.  I think it was my first attempt at baking.  My mother enjoyed them and so did my pets and assorted toys.  Then there was nothing like kicking off your shoes and squishing your toes through the cool, brown slick mud as it oozed up and around your feet.  The sucking sound as you tried to walk was great and when you tried to walk with several inches of mud on your feet was indescribable  as though you could walk with feet like a giant because of all the mud caked on them. 

Nowadays I don’t think children are allowed to ever get dirty.  If they are , they are quickly sanitized and then given an energy drink with extra vitamins.  I think fresh air and a little mud would be much better.

Tags: Children, Dirt, Germs, MRSA