ANDRE BEGIN

What is it about a little kid coughing without covering their mouth that can make the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end and then have me running in the opposite direction?

The last thing I want to do just before Christmas is catch a cold. Unfortunately, over the course of my lifetime, it has happened a couple of times. I don’t think it ever prevented me from attending our family’s festivities, but the times it happened, I would stay at a safe distance from my relatives to avoid giving my germs to anybody.

If I didn’t do that, the alternative would be unthinkable: “Merry Christmas! Here’s your gift… A scratchy throat followed by a week of breathing out of one nostril, followed by a cough that will follow you around like your shadow for another week after that.”

Even though it’s the giving season, I wouldn’t want to pass a cold on to our elders who might have a more challenging time fighting it off. Or similarly, to put a family member in the unfortunate position of having to take time off due to illness shortly after their return to work.

That being the case, in the weeks prior to Christmas, I find myself hypervigilant, trying to stay away from people with persistent, hacking coughs.

However, it doesn’t seem to matter where I am; there always seems to be one in every crowd. And we’re not just talking about an inconvenient dry cough. What concerns me most is those deep guttural coughs and congestion that can turn any soprano into a contralto.

I remember back in my public transportation days, there were times when I changed seats to get some distance from someone with a persistent wet cough. No matter how understanding and compassionate I wanted to be, the spirit of self-preservation was just too strong.

I also remember a time when I was at an appointment, waiting in a cubicle for a medical professional, when I could hear someone at the reception desk with a nagging, hacking cough. My mind started racing, wondering how fast I could sprint from the cubicle to the front door to spend as little time as possible in the reception area. My next thought was how long I could hold my breath while quickly putting on my winter coat, hat, boots and gloves while wishing everyone a very merry Christmas.

Then there’s the shopping. It’s not really a problem when you’re in a large department store with high ceilings, but it’s when you’re in a small, cozy neighborhood store, and you find yourself in line to be served by a cashier displaying symptoms that set off alarm bells. Would it be rude to change checkout lines?

I quickly run through what I hope are diplomatic scenarios in my head. Could I fake going back into the store for something I missed, hoping another shopper takes my place in line? Or perhaps I could spend time pretending like I’m looking at the impulse items around the checkout area, and when another customer comes along, I could say, “Go ahead, I’m just browsing,” and then queue up at a different checkout line.

I know that part of the answer is that I should trust in my own immune system. I accept that the onus should be on me to take extra precautions, to sleep well, eat right, and to build up my resistance. However, during the holidays, that’s sometimes easier said than done.

I also realize that it’s not something that is completely within my control. I accept that it’s a risk I assume when I’m out in public. All I can do is take the necessary precautions, not let myself get run down, and use proper handwashing techniques after having been out and about.

Then, all I can do is keep my fingers crossed that everything works out and that my loved ones and I will be able to enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season!

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Sincere thanks for reading!
Have a great day,
André