By John Pierre

How do they do it?  It is unusual to see your medical specialists under the weather.  How do doctors and nurses keep from coming down with the myriad illnesses they are exposed to daily by their sick patients? 

Let me say up front, it ain't easy.  Most importantly, they wash their hands multiple times each day and, of equal importance, you may have noticed by casual observation that their receptionists and other office help are constantly sterilizing door knobs and other objects that are frequently touched by patients. 

Outside of the medical community, all of us come in contact with many more germs than we can fight off.  How about the guy who covers his mouth with his hand when he coughs and then gets the urge to shake hands. 

In a poker game, it's not unusual to see someone sneeze, again covering his mouth with a hand, and then begin to shuffle cards and deal.  The germs being spread are in the tens of trillions… not unlike our national debt.

It appears to me that the Japanese have the right idea.  It is common practice in Japan for many to wear surgical masks, whether sick or not, to keep from spreading or catching diseases to/from others in the crowded country.  That shows great consideration for others with whom they come in contact.  I applaud them. 

Disease in our country, where the wearing of surgical masks is not a standard practice, spreads fairly quickly, especially among the young.  Our children are grouped together in schools with others, many of whom haven't been taught sanitary manners. 

So… my New Year’s resolutions included (along with the usual good intentioned ones such as… stop eating too much, drinking too much and being too ornery) not to shake hands with knotheads and stop playing poker with slobs. 

I'm afraid that will spell the end of my poker-playing days.  

The question crosses my mind, is that a burden too great to suffer?  Aaaarrrggggh!