…goes a long way.

I believe I spoke of this matter in the past. When you are packed into a sardine can with a number of other people, there is no space to maneuver, if by chance you wished to flee. I was in that state of hopelessness yesterday.

I was riding the 14x yesterday, the bus was packed to the rim. My standing position was in the middle of the aisle. I had to put my right foot perpendicular to the rotational axis of the earth while holding onto the top rail with my fingertips. Awkward, but I am use to the yoga-like positions by now.

So I am standing there, feeling sexually harassed by the amount of grinding going on when the bus makes sudden movements, when the guy to my right facing me has the mother-of-all sneezes.

Time slowed down as I watched in horror. I could see his mouth hang open, eyes squint, chest expand; he held that position for a second. The calm before the storm if you will. Then time sped back up to normal time. His head snapped forward, his body caved and a deluge of spit and germs came wafting in my general direction. The sneeze was so powerful, the disease ridden cloud was actually in the visible spectrum.

I tried to turn away but again but there was no where to run. The death cloud was getting closer and closer to my person. I covered my mouth and turned my head away. But, I could feel the heavy and wet air pass through me. I believed I lost two years of my life in that one moment.

At the time, I thought nothing of it. Just a normal everyday occurrence. Until now. I have all the signs of a cold, the runny nose, the hacking cough, and the constant sneezing. This bites.

Please people, cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze. Be respectful of others. Especially when everyone is in a tin can.