I haven’t blogged in a while. My life has been in a constant state of turmoil and there never seemed to be enough time. So, this week’s blog is a tongue in cheek look at the potential answers to the question why?
Why is hand sanitizer in a public washroom in the wrong place?
As I visited public washrooms with my grandchildren, it finally occurred to me that the reason the handles on the toilets and stall doors are a breeding place for bacteria is because we put the hand sanitizer stations in the wrong place. My youngest grandson told me “It is okay, grandma. I’ll wash my hands at the sink.” At this point, the light bulb went on. He had just used the facilities and his hands were not the cleanest that they had ever been. I was without the handi-wipes which were in his backpack in the car … and he wanted to open the stall door. He was going to contribute to the bacteria count which I would transfer to my hands until we were at the sink to wash our hands. There are lots of places to touch between the stall and the sink, including the soak dispenser, which will increase the bacteria count.
It occurs to me that we could reduce the transmission of germs if we put the hand sanitizer at the point where it is needed – automatic (hands free) dispensers in the stall or above the urinal. We still can’t make people wash their hands after their ablutions but convenience might go a long way to inducing people to be proactive and reduce the germ count.
Why aren’t all sports athletes are a credit to their upbringing?
We were at Danny and Buck’s restaurant and bar last night to finish a promise to a seven year old girl. She wanted to meet her current crush .. Buck Pierce, quarterback for the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. I was just a little bit skeptical. I have travelled at lot and met a lot of sports athletes behaving badly. I remembered meeting Charles Barkley early in his career and he was a complete jerk. I wondered if she was about to have the same experience. It would be potentially disastrous because my three grandchildren think the sun rises and sets on the Bombers.
Buck took the time to talk to each of my three grandchildren and made them feel like they counted. He gave Nathaniel, our rookie footballer, a lot of encouragement and signed his helmet. Buck’s signature is now in good company with Khari Jones and Milt Stegall. He signed a belated birthday football and her pink WBB baseball cap for Ashleigh. At seven, her life goal is to play in the CFL. She is stubborn enough that it is infinitely possible. She starts football next spring. Nicholas, the youngest, was so proud to have his hand shaken like a big boy. Buck signed his pendant and it will be on the bedroom wall.
Buck Pierce was a real gentleman. He was gracious and made them feel like they had won the billion dollar lottery. He doesn’t play for my team but he is a class act.