On the up side, the appointment went well. She was much more interested in getting to know Alex than in explaining him, which I found rather refreshing.

I’m not a germophobe either, although while I was working as a Health Aide, I made sure to wash often, for my patient’s sake. As examples of not being afraid of a few germs – I usually set out half a dozen toothpicks at a time on the little table next to my easy chair. I use the same one, over and over, and each one lasts a week or two before it wears out or breaks. I’m kinda lackadaisical about dishwashing. Sometimes I do them on an “as needed” basis, and I may or may not add fresh dishwashing liquid to the scrunge I leave sitting by the side of the sink. (I do use hot water, though.) And you don’t even want to know how many times I reuse a bath towel, or just how long it hangs on the shower curtain rod before I consign it to the dirty clothes basket.

So, not a germophobe, I just don’t want my hands to be dirty or sticky, and fortunately, all my washing doesn’t bother them.