(no subject)

[wickedflea]

I've gone off saying "bless you" when people sneeze. It's always felt weird to me, and I've finally decided to give it up. What I didn't expect was that anyone would notice, but someone at the office asked me yesterday why I never blessed anyone. I told her that I thought it was voodoo nonsense, and she laughed at me. Then we started talking about the various reasons for sneeze-blessing -- soul leaving the body, heart momentarily stopping, whatever the hell else. And I'm weird for not taking part.

Later, there was a rainstorm, and at the end of it, it was raining while the sun was shining brightly. Making sure to announce beforehand that it's just an old saying that nobody really believes, I told everyone in the office what my Grandmother says the rain/sun phenomenon means: that the Devil is beating his wife. This was incredibly funny to them, and yet they're walking around blessing one another because of some poorly understood malarkey.

BTW, this was all in fun, and I find the devil-beating-his-wife thing as funny as anyone. I think I'll start a band called Tennessee Satan and the Everlovin' Wifebeaters.


Speaking of band names, I once ran across a newsletter put out by the Alabama Meat Goat Association called Meat Goat Advantage. For real. I think that would be a fuckin' kick-ass name for an industrial band.

Comments

[luffbucket.livejournal.com]

I always say: "Gazoontite"

That's Hebrew for: "Hey, keep your germs to yourself, bitch" or something.

Re:

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Heh -- I was thinking about just saying, "Shut up, geez!"

[marigold.livejournal.com]

I used to never say "Bless you". I grew up hearing "gesundheit" which means "good health" or something I think. But in college I dated someone who told me he thought it was very rude not to say "bless you" so I got into the habit of doing it. Which annoys me.

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's the only nagging thing -- the thought that I might be seen as rude. But I feel like my "bless you" was always half-ass, and I wouldn't want someone calling me on it. "You didn't really mean that, did you?" "Well, no . . ."

[jetgirl23.livejournal.com]

I think "bless you" is very rude to say! Damn religion sneeking in where ever it can!

I like to say "gesundheit" which means "health to you" or to wish someone good health...

:)

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Yeah, it IS rude! Why don't the bastards just pass out Jack Chick tracts</a while they're at it? The gesundheit thing is probably the wisest option. I sort of resent having to say anything, though. Maybe I could start offering people Flintstones multivitamins or something. ;)

[jetgirl23.livejournal.com]

Hahaha, I love those booklets....used to collect them. But yeah, I'm with you...I usually never say anything. It just seems intrusive, ya know? I don't like it when people say anything when I sneeze. In fact, I usually sneeze 3 times in a row once a day. After the 2nd sneeze the annoying cow-orker tries to say "googenheim" (because I told her "bless you" offended me..hahaha), but it does no good because the 3rd sneeze drowns her out! Mwahahahaha!

Oh, yeah! When we were kids we'd say that the Devil was beating his wife too! Wow! It's good to see someone else remembers that!

[sarcasmosis.livejournal.com]

i don't have the book on me to reference, but i do believe saying bless you is an old anti-witchcraft superstition. i will look into it if you'd like.

[wickedflea.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's basically what my co-workers were saying, like it's to prevent evil spirits from entering your body. Weird how stuff like that sticks around.

[sarcasmosis.livejournal.com]

no not weird. it's actually quite stupid. especially how the god part got in there.