I’ll be alright, I just have to be dramatic first
Even before the dreaded pandemic we all knew people who didn’t like to shake hands, whose perfume was Eau d’ Sanitizer, and whose kitchen floors were clean enough for surgery (don't look at me). And then Covid showed its spikey little face and sent the rest of us over the top.
Mostly we’ve recovered from the fearful mindset, but not entirely. For example, some of us will never fly again without a mask - those closed compartments of swirling pathogens have always been problematic. But generally we’re out and about with just a general awareness of cold and flu season.
There’s a difference between being a germaphobe and freaking out when you realize you’re in the presence of someone with a cold. Which brings us to the Mahjong Table. This place of respite, community, and relaxation can be a teeny, weeny, super spreader- especially if one of your besties suffers from FOMO. We all know that one player who can’t stand to miss a game and shows up every winter at least once with “allergies”. Wadded up Kleenex stuffed in her sleeves like the ancient librarians in middle school, her nose crimson from blowing. Ugh.
Our group finally had a heart to heart agreeing that if you even had an inkling of being contagious staying home was expected. Still, some people are better at honoring the agreement than others. See the aforementioned FOMO. Ugh again.
We’re sitting close together and handling the same tiles. So, what can we do to minimize swapping germs with our Jokers? Here are some ideas:
• Wash your hands before touching tiles! (hardly groundbreaking advice, right?)
• Suggest that anyone who blows their nose should leave the table and wash their hands.
• Don’t serve snacks (horrors!)
• Or, serve snacks that are eaten with a fork instead of finger foods (did someone say cake?).
• Keep hand sanitizer at the table, and encourage people to use it.
• And lastly, clean your tiles. This is a big one and can be fraught!
Imagine dropping your tiles into a sink full of warm sudsy water after Ms. FOMO had been to play, only to discover the ink on your tiles wasn’t colorfast. Disaster! Before you clean any tiles see if the manufacturer has a recommended way of doing so. If not, individually wiping each tile with an alcohol-free baby wipe is generally safe. If at all possible, test any cleaning method on a spare tile before committing your whole set!
Ultimately, the best thing to do is fall back on the Golden Rule and stay home to keep your germies all to yourself, because you’d appreciate your Mahj besties doing the same for you.
Stay healthy, everyone!