Tissue & Me

Please don’t do that.  Please don’t touch me. 

I

Don’t

Know

You.

I know that you didn’t mean any harm, but you don’t know me so don’t touch me!

I guess you need the back story. 

It happens at church.

I love church. I’ve been faithfully going to the same church since birth. Even during the year of COVID-19, I watched from a computer or a phone. The thing about my church is that it’s small. Almost everyone is related to each other or we have known each other so long that we’re play cousins. With that being said, everyone knows me.

They know not to hug me. They warn me if they have on perfume or they avoid me altogether. I’m fine with that. 

But you know what part of church that I truly hate?

Meet and Greet.

I.  Hate.  It.

I guess that it’s wrong to hate things, especially about church, but for people like me, it’s torture.  Strangers smiling.  Strangers shaking hands.  Strangers hugging.

DON’T TOUCH ME!!!!!

One particular Sunday, a visitor got up during Meet and Greet and ran towards me with arms outstretched to give a hug. 

Okay, she didn’t run, BUT….

I curved her.

I over-extended my arm for a handshake.  She had a brief moment of “no-she-didn’t” on her face.

Yes, I did. 

I get tired of sneezing and not being able to breathe. It irks me to have someone else’s fragrance linger on my skin and clothing especially when I don’t have a way to scrub down or change clothes.

My inner dialog may be dramatic. I understand that people who don’t suffer with allergies or intolerances don’t understand.

Don’t touch me.  Even in church.  Don’t do it.