Last Friday I called on my cousin Bubba to come remove a rattlesnake from the end of the road. Someone--and it had to be someone who was driving heavy equipment--had run over and squished the biggest rattler I have ever seen, and it was lying belly up near my driveway.

It was as big around as Bubba's arm, and had a yellow underside. It's rattlers rattled on the asphalt as Bubba dragged it with a pick up stick into the ditch across the road. Out of sight, out of mind. So I paid Bubba, bless his heart, and also took him out for lunch yesterday.

I went into the restaurant restroom to wash my hands before eating. A waitress came in, went into a stall, peed, came out and paused for a couple of seconds to check her hair in the mirrors and left without washing her hands. There is a big sign over the sinks EMPLOYEES MUST WASH HANDS BEFORE LEAVING. Oh oh. Maybe that girl couldn't read. I pointed her out to Bubba, saying that waitress didn't wash her hands; I don't want her waiting on us.

Astoundingly, Bubba said "No, they have to wash their hands. That sign is in every restaurant restroom." Well, without a camera trained on the sinks, how do employers know waitpersons are washing up? They don't, and I bet a lot of dirty hands are touching your food and your plates.

Especially now, when the H1N1 Swine Flu virus is closing schools and spreading quickly in Mississippi, simple hygiene is soooo lacking.

I told Bubba about the Seinfeld episode where he goes to Poppy's restaurant and Jerry is in the restroom washing his hands--Poppy comes in, pees and leaves without washing up. Poppy brings a dish out to Jerry that he says he has gone to great trouble to make just for Jerry. Jerry looks and looks at the plate, remembering the unwashed hands then hollers "I can't eat it! I just can't do it!" Big commotion ensues.

Anyway, y'all please wash your hands. It's the simplest way to stay healthy. Germs are as dangerous as rattlesnakes.

susil