During the summer, when I’d find myself talking to someone with the sniffles, and I’d ask, “Are you sick?”
“No, it’s just allergies. They’re wicked bad this year.” And I’d breathe a sigh of relief, because you know what? I don’t have time to get sick. I mean, who does?
But now we’re heading into the fall, my friends, and that means cold and flu season will be here before you know it. Throw in Covid, RSV and whatever new creeping crud is on the horizon, we need to be considerate of others. I’m begging you, if you’re sick, stay home! You’ll get better quicker if you take care of yourself, and you won’t be passing it on to anyone else. Now that’s a win/win in my book.
Yet still, folks feel compelled to stupidly soldier on. Like Dickie at the dump. I’ll let Charlie tell you about it.
Achoo!
Ran into Dickie
At the dump today
Man, that guy
Was in a terrible way
Coughin’and wipin’
His nose on his hoodie
Shouldn’t have come
Down here now, should he?
Wheezin’, sneezin’
God, what a sight!
Ick, that Dickie
Was sicky, alright
“Achoo!” goes he,
“I’m doin’ OK
Achoo! It’s nothin’,
Gettin’ better each day”
In between coughs, he
Couldn’t stop scratchin’
I stepped back apace
In case it was catchin’
“Dickie,” I says,
“Why not take stock,
Maybe go and visit you
A real, live doc?”
“Achoo! Honk, sniffle
I’m doin’ OK
Achoo! It’s nothin’,
Gettin’ better each day
Doctors, they wouldn’t
Know where to begin
I’ve always been my own best
Medicine”
Yeah right, I’m thinking,
You look like hell
And this is no place
For you to get well
“Go home, now Dickie,
‘Til you’re rid of that snot
Before you give the rest of us
Whatever you’ve got”
“Achoo! Honk, sniffle
I’m doin’ OK
Achoo! It’s nothin’,
Gettin’ better each day
Doctors, they wouldn’t
Know where to begin
I’ve always been my own best
Medicine
Achoo! I’m my own best
Medicine”
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Be Considerate, I’m Begging You