Surfing

I have been doing some surfing this afternoon and read blogs from both my sons. I am truly amazed at the calibre of men they have become. I wonder how that happened. It would be affirming to really believe that I had something to do with it, but if that were true then it would be that they learned from my mistakes. However, the bottom line is that I have managed to raise 2 men who are devoted to their marriages and their families; 2 men who are concerned with doing the right thing. It feels pretty good.

The Grunge of Death

I could have called it last October when Corporate Health and Safety came around to make sure we all had our Flu and Pneumonia shots.  It was so easy to see the handwriting on that wall that I doubt Helen Keller would have missed it.  It was convenient; no taking time off of work to run to the doctor and wait for a couple of hours.  It was cheap; no co-pay, just $3 per shot.  And best of all it was painless; the nurse that has come for the past 3 years is good at what she does.  My arm didn't even get very sore afterwards and I didn't feel bad for a day or two.  Just one little shot and I get to miss weeks and weeks of fever, pain, nagging coughs and not being able to breathe.  It sounds like a deal to me.  So I was waiting in line when they were setting up.  Yes, I was going in for that one.  But when I was trying to talk my best friend into it, another employee (John) brought up the "You'll Shoot Your Eye Out" kiss of death.  He got the shot two years ago and suddenly came down with the worst case of Flu the CDC has ever seen!  Suddenly everyone heard about someone who was hospitalized after getting the flu shot a few years ago, and how can we be sure they are safe?  Aren't the cooked up in some sort of lead based poison that will make all your future kids autistic? 

 

Two weeks ago John came down with the flu.  He had a fever of 500 for 10 days and couldn't keep anything down.  He is sitting in his cube hacking away like an asbestos victim as I type.  It is making me crazy.  But before he wasted his discretionary days on an illness that could have been prevented, he infected all the people he talked out of getting the shot.  They too are sitting in their cubes hating John and hacking away.  They hate me because so far I haven't succumbed  to their contagion.  I hope I don't get as much as a runny nose, but it really won't help.  Next year Johnny will talk them out of the shot again and I will live with a can of Lysol Spray for a few months.

 

Do yourself a favor.  The flu shot isn't going to hurt you.  It's going to keep you from being miserable for a few weeks and spreading your misery to those you love the most.  Next October get the shot!