you probably have the flu. It is that time of year. Actually, it’s a little early, meaning that the season will be in full swing by the time everyone starts traveling to visit with family and friends during Christmas. There will be many who will have a fever and feel as though they have been beaten nearly to death with a hammer, but will travel anyway because, hey, Great Aunt Ethel will be disappointed if she doesn’t get the pair of socks they spent two minutes picking out. They will hack and cough, sneeze and sniffle, wipe their eyes and forget, at times, to cover their mouth, touch everything and leave their germs behind for dozens of others; kind of like paying it forward, but in a bad way. Unless they are walking around in a bubble, they are going to give it to many unsuspecting people, who will in turn, give it to many other unsuspecting people.
Imagine yourself on a plane, closed in with a few hundred others, a third of whom may have or have been exposed to, the flu. Breathing the air, touching the surfaces. There isn’t enough soap or hand sanitizer in the world to protect you. Now imagine yourself on the subway platform with all the same scenes. Now imagine yourself on the train, or at the rest area, or in a restaurant, or at the mall … I could go on for pages, but first, multiply the above by a hundred thousand or so. If you or someone you know hasn’t yet tested positive, just give it a little more time.
The flu virus can live outside the body anywhere from a few seconds to 48 hours and on your hands for about an hour. The vaccinated have a better chance of avoiding the flu than the un-vaccinated, but there are no certainties either way. It is important to wash your hands or use sanitizer between every contact with every surface. Will it make you feel like the skin on your hands is going to fall of? Of course. What can you do about it? Use lotion. That will make you even more susceptible, but at least your nails will look good.
Jesus is the reason for the season, but flu is the reason for the sneezin’. Try to stay well everyone …
A Photographer's Heart 