Nurse Phobias & The Grey Cup

My niece is just learning the dangers of what happens when you start to learn about diseases.  She is training to be an esthetician.  They learn some of the same things that we do in nursing.....anatomy and physiology, diseases.......

Here is what she posted on her Facebook wall:

The arrow points to my reply.

I had to laugh because I happen to understand the phobias that develop with that extra knowledge about diseases and germs.

I have even blogged about it.  I have also blogged about my opinion about someone else's careless disregard for contagious diseases when they spread it to others around them.

Which leads me to the reason for this post.

Today is the Grey Cup and last week my husband invited a couple over that he interacts with through his work.

Unfortunately, what he didn't know is that last weekend on their way home from vacation,  she managed to develop an URI.  

When she phoned my husband the day before, I could hear her voice loud and clear over the phone from across the room.

She sounded terrible.  I assumed she was phoning to decline the invite today.

So yesterday afternoon,  when I was making out the grocery shopping list,  my husband mentioned that there were going to be seven of us........

My phobia starts to kick in.  "Your sick friend is coming????"

"Of course!" he states.

But......she sounded so sick!!! She can't be coming ....!!!

"Yes..".  a little more cautious, seeing my horrified face and sensing my phobia kicking into high gear. "They are..."

"Who goes visiting out in public when they are sick????!!!!"  I am starting to get panicky.  My husband is too....he sees what is coming....

 I tell him he has to find a way to "uninvite"  her.  After all, she's HIS sick friend....

So, trying to correct the situation, he emails a polite note to her:


"Sorry you aren't feeling well.  I can understand if you can't come tomorrow.  I can imagine you aren't feeling up to it....you sounded so sick yesterday on the phone.  You will need your rest to get better"

To which she emails back, "Oh no! It sounds worse than it is!!! We will be there!!!"

*SIGH*

So much for beating around the bush and hoping someone gets the hint.

Just to let you know - I won't be downstairs watching the game in the enclosed space of the Mancave.  Nope.   My girlfriend Jan is coming over - and her husband - and she and I will be upstairs watching on the smaller TV in our living room........

The month I was off  work sick last winter with an URI is still fresh in my mind and I am NOT going to expose myself to any bugs if I can help it.  I was traumatized. 

And - thing is - my girlfriend who is also an RN is almost as germophobic as I am.   I am wondering if I should warn her in advance.   It isn't as though she would want to be downstairs watching on the 110 inch theater screen anyway.  In fact, I suspect she will bring her iPad so she can play Angry Birds.

As for the food.....I won't be touching anything downstairs.   I have bought chips in small portion bags so there aren't bowls of shared food.  I will keep a stash of food upstairs so I don't have to go downstairs to get anything.

Why do people insist on going out when they are coughing and hacking and sound like crap?

Sometimes I curse nursing, and wish I were oblivious to those invisible germs out there and then I could be one of those stupid people who goes out and spreads those bugs to everyone in the community with no thought whatsoever.....

*SIGH*

Well, at least I could still laugh about someone else's developing phobia......

I'll let you know if I get sick.

I've already told my husband that if he gets sick.....I won't be his nurse.....