Has Swine Flu effected your behavior at public events? I am a recovering germophobe so these past few weeks have been a challenge for me.

On Friday and Saturday, I attended 3 different large events. I was curious to see if people would be shaking hands and hugging or just bump, nod and bow. I think I was just as nervous as they were.

At the first international conference on Friday, I came loaded with Purell (hand sanitizer) expecting to try to shy away from shaking hands. When I approach people and they put out their hands, I politely said I was not shaking hands and I was only bumping. The people that did not know me looked at me strange- not a good way to build rapport. The people who knew me and I did not hug or shake their hands were insulted. I quickly had to change my strategy. I had to shank hands– hugging was optional. I must have gone through a whole bottle of purell that day with my swine a phobia.

Later that night I went to a theatre social event and hugging was the thing. The next day at SOBCON, a social media conference, handshakes were in except for Phil Gerbyshak. He always hugs.

This is what I learned. Until Armageddon is upon us and the plague from Stephen King’s jumps off the page, we must continue to press the flesh and shake hands in America. Hugs- well your call (although I have heard they are less dangerous thank handshakes)

Just carry a lot of purell…