Another word for Germophobia, Mysophobia is defined as irrational fear of dirt and contamination. I remember my dad, another fabulous Virgo, driving me to school reminding me to wash my hands throughout the day and be sure not to share drinks or food with other kids. Little did I know that he was really hoping to avoid getting the common Elementary School cooties by installing the fear of God into me each day. My grandfather, another Germophobe (is it hereditary?) was also convinced that my large appetite was attributed to worms I must have gotten from playing with the Irish Setters next door. It can scar a child for life to wake up to your grandparents checking your butt in the middle of the night with a flashlight. I am proud to say that I was simply hungry.
Later, sex education classes showed photos of all kinds of lovely opportunities for disease that made intimacy not so appealing after all. Of course I was convinced I would be a statistic. Luckily I managed to dodge that bullet.
Years of washing up and hundreds of bottles of sanitizer later, I find myself still avoiding germs when possible. Recently, I almost went head first down an escalator because I refuse to grip the crusty rail. When I sat in the theater watching Contagion, all I could think about was what might be crawling on my theater seat.
Today, I opened up the front page of Google News to see an alarming article about a new Coronavirus that has been discovered in Saudi Arabia that is likely to wipe out the entire human population. Isn’t it just a matter of time before it gets here?
This leads to my request. As a Germophobe, I ask that you please save a life and Jenerously wash your hands. And if you accidentally sneeze on my food, please don’t tell me. It will save me some more therapy.
Another word for Germophobia, Mysophobia is defined as irrational fear of dirt and contamination. I remember my dad, ano...
