What is it with Californians and colds? This is a cultural wall I
hit having grown up where my mom didn’t think wind child below zero was any excuse
for me not to stand outside at the bus stop.
I think it is great to live in a place so pleasant, people actually
have the belief they can go through winter without getting a cold, however unrealistic
that may be. I have to remember this, more importantly, learn this cultural way, when
people call to cancel or say they can’t go somewhere because they have a cold and
they don’t want to get anyone else sick. I have to remember this is the Californian
expectation.
This was brought home to me again last week when I went to pick my
son up from school. The nurse called to say his cold had progressed to a fever and the
secretary gave me a hardy ribbing for sending a sick kid to school so they would get sick
just in time for their upcoming vacation.
To be honest, I never gave it a second thought. I remember taking
Coricidan or Contact before school every day all winter. If everyone stayed home from
school or work for a cold in Chicago, the place would have been empty. We didn’t have
that rule students couldn’t take medicine except in the nurse’s office with a
note from a doctor. Lunch time was dose time for most of us and pills were tucked in with
our sandwiches.
A corollary to this is you will notice when a Californian tells you
they have a cold, they will usually name who gave it to them. Another incredible leap
considering most of us go dozens of places a day we might catch an airborne disease!
One time, and this actually happened, well, maybe I don’t have
to convince Californians this actually happened -- a mom down the street wanted to hold me
financially responsible for her husband’s cold. According to her, their son caught a
cold from my son, she was sure, even though her child played with all the children in the
neighborhood and walked around outside barefoot in winter and went to preschool and on and
on. Anyway, her son caught a cold from mine and then gave it to her husband – she
knew this even though he worked and shopped and generally was out in public -- and because
of this he had to go to the doctor several times and missed days at work and she wanted me
to help pay the bills! After I got over the shock, I gave her a Chicago reply.
My toast for the millenium – here’s to your health! For
today, my child is home, you are safe. Wash your hands a lot and continue on your quest
for disease free winters.