Two degrees of separation (cough, cough)

Epidemia de Pánico / Panic Epidemy via Eneas

Someone you know has swine flu. Seriously. It may be your co-worker’s boyfriend’s cousin’s grandma, or it could be your mailman. Still, someone within your circle (a.k.a. within easy virus transmitting distance) has the swine. The global pandemic that was little more than a really cute picture of two Chinese girls in face masks in the New York Times a few months ago, now has a much more personal, intimate face.

My upstairs neighbor has a deep, dry cough (he totally has swine). Ms. Cajones works at a school (she’s probably gonna get it too). Someone else I know actually had it, and didn’t even realize. (Oh great, now I probably have it too!)

Swine flu is no longer remote. Yikes!

Near constant media hype and frantic word-of-mouth has given H1N1 a life of its own. It’s not just a flu – it’s a menace, and it’s coming for you.

I feel like I’m holding my breath, just waiting for the storm to hit.

Never mind the fact that I’m not particularly susceptible to the flu, with or without a vaccination. I’m nervous.

Every person I talk to lately seems to be telling me, “My mom has it” or “My brother has it”. It’s enough to make anyone jumpy.

Added to the hype is in the fact that Frazzie has taken to bathing everything in the office with Lysol. Even though I don’t have the flu, my brain is so high on Lysol fumes that I still feel sick.

H1N1 has become a constant joke at the office. Every time someone coughs or sneezes, the response is: “Hey, do you swine?”

It will be interesting to see if I can survive this pandemic without actually catching it. Especially since I haven’t been vaccinated...