As Popeye used to say, "I've taken all I can stand, and I can't stands no more!"
I gently refused my ophthalmologist's attempts to fist-bump, elbow-bump, and high-five me this morning when he entered the exam room where I waited. I told him I am a handshake guy, and I'd be happy to do that if he would pass the pump bottle of hand sanitizer that was prominent in the room.
The conversation and exam moved on pleasantly and quickly. Without a handshake.
Sorry for not being sorry about that. But, you understand, the attempted forms of greeting outlined above smack way too much of bro culture for me. I understand, in the age of Covid-19, why we have been advised not shake hands.
And I'd just as soon not touch most people anyway. Even pre-pandemic. But I'll stick to the plain, old handshake when the opportunity once again presents itself, thank you very much.
-- Heinz-Ulrich
I’m ever so glad that disingenuous hugs with people you hardly know have fallen by the wayside as a result of Covid.
ReplyDeleteYou and me both, Fritz! You and me both. The only hugs I want are from my late mother, my sister, my wife, and our son. And he will no doubt decide soon that he is getting too big to do that with Dad for much longer.
ReplyDeleteH-U.
Absolutely. The fist bump and high five seem utterly "Bro" to me as well, and go along with untucked shirts, sloppy "athleisure" and the other regrettable signs of the times. I was proffered a hand to shake last week for the first time in over a year, and I had almost forgotten that such a thing was possible. Since we were both vaccinated, I shook it gladly, although I am also mostly a non-toucher, even pre-Covid, and definitely not a willing hugger of strangers and acquaintances.
ReplyDelete