Responses to my trivial column
John E. Peterson
Thursday, July 12, 2007
THE COLUMN about my microbial musings appeared, as usual, on a Thursday evening. The next day, Friday, was the June Retired Teachers luncheon meeting at the American Legion. It is always on the first Friday of each month. Merle and I were scheduled to be the greeters for that meeting. That meant we stood a bit past the entrance, said hello to the people as they entered and shook their hands. Wow! Did I get comments about my Thursday night column.
In that column of the evening before, among other things, I had written about my concern with shaking hands. I often wonder where the hand offered me has been and what is on it. Those comments about hand shaking brought many, many comments as we greeted about 60 people.
I cannot remember who said what, but I must have gotten well over a dozen remarks about hand shaking. Someone said, “If I had my way, you would have washed your hands before starting to greet people.” Somebody else said, “If I had my way, you would wash your hands before you eat your lunch.” And many other comments about hand washing. If I had thought about it and realized that I was going to be a hand-shaking greeter the next day, I never would have taken that column in for that particular Thursday night.
There were other comments about that column, too. Before the greeting even started, Norma Karhoff told me how much she agreed with all the things I had said about bacteria in our world. We all ought to give the topic more thought, she told me.
Then, also long before the people started arriving and the greeting began, Jack Melhorn had a bit to say about my column. Jack zeroed in on what I had said about washing my hands after using the restroom, but then having to grasp the door handle to open the door after someone else had not washed his hands, but had just used the handle to let himself out.
Jack told me how to handle that situation. When I had finished washing and drying my hands, he said, keep the paper towel and use it on the handle to open the door. Fine idea, I told him. We both agreed, however, that the problem then is to find a proper place to get rid of the paper towel. Problems just lead to other problems.
I also got some responses about that microbial musing column from others not at that Retired Teachers luncheon. Early in the week after the column appeared, I was walking into the Recreation Center for my afternoon exercises. Dr. John Brockhouse was just coming out after finishing his workout. As we passed, he told me that he had liked my last column about all the germs there in the Rec Center.
Then, the next day after that, I got a card in the mail from Gary and Barbara Bleeker. They wrote, “We always enjoy your columns and have learned a great deal from them. Tonight’s column was especially interesting to us. We also have microbial musings! We especially “muse” when handling the gas pump handle. And when we are on planes, we think about all the microbes on those little food trays. Also, keyboards for computers must be LOADED and telephones, too! Well, we guess we will go use an antibacterial wipe now! Stay well! Wash often!”
If you went to Brodie’s Full Service Station for your gas, Gary and Barbara, you would not have to worry about the pump handle. They do it for you.
All those comments were precipitated by that one column. That is great for my ego. I would keep getting such wonderful responses, if I had my way.
Over the years, I have often had comments about my columns at that Retired Teachers luncheon. That, no doubt, is because the column appeared on a Thursday evening and the luncheon was the next day. Consequently, some months, people at the luncheon have seen the column just the evening before.
Back at the April meeting, for example, Conrad Steinel, in his introductory remarks, mentioned something to which I had referred in a column. He said, “John Peterson, one of our own, wrote this.” As I sat there, I thought how nice it is to hear my name mentioned in relation to something I had written.
Later, at that same meeting, the main program was given by Regina Murphy, the writer of the articles about cooking and baking for The Gazette. During her presentation, she mentioned my name in reference to something I had written in one of these columns. Two such mentions at one meeting! Wow! Neither of them said, “If I had my way,” but both referred to me and my columns. I like that very much!
I can never tell when a comment about these columns may come up. Or from whom it may come. Often a person will use “If I had my way” in the comment, but sometimes they do not. Either way, such comments are just great. I enjoy them and they are good for me. You would keep making such responses to these trivial columns, if I had my way.