Spring Fever          - 25/9/2006      <--Prev : Next-->


SPRING FEVER

It must be some sort of deep rooted primeval urge that makes one
feel the need to SPRING CLEAN !!

It always happens at this time of the year in the Southern 
Hemisphere. Possibly it is something to do with the Jacarandas
which 
are peeping slightly in purple shyness from some very special trees 
right now. Maybe it is the scent of the Syringa blossoms (a love
hate 
battle rages within most savage breasts at this time )

Maybe it could be the bouganvilla which are stunning in the extreme 
this year, maybe the "yesterday Today and Tomorrow" bloom, with
that 
exotic heady scent invades our cleanliness urges.

Or possibly the glorious perfume that exudes from the Moon-flower, 
whose  massive trumpet flowers  fall too quickly especially in the 
September wind.

Whatever it is, I can feel it welling. Being of slightly short 
stature and of growing short sightedness, I seldom notice cobwebs, 
dust and grime. But suddenly in September, my eagle eye can spot a 
speck, a fleck, a mite of house dust and I am out there, spit
polish 
and all.

Down come the curtains, out comes the feather duster, the washing 
machines roars all day long, the steam cleaner steams furiously,
the 
soap powder in the shops becomes scarce and everyone thinks there 
will be a shortage and starts hoarding accordingly.

"Out damned spot" I shriek in rage, Mother's voice rings in my ears 
from up above "Cleanliness is next to Godliness now dear !!"

"All will come out in the wash" I can hear her as clear as a bell.

The Bridge Girls are sad, they are surely missing my company, but I 
well know that It's hard to be brilliantly skilful and attentive
when 
you have an overwhelming desire to be clean.

The school committees are marking me as absent but I have a
wonderful 
excuse "Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but
they 
are more deadly in the long run."

At this time of the year I worry that I might suffer from 
Ablutophobia - Fear of washing or bathing or possibly Amathophobia -
 
Fear of dust.

Is there a not a hint of Bacillophobia - Fear of microbes or even a 
smidgen of Bacteriophobia- Fear of bacteria ?

Heehoo starts muttering about OCD, he sends me links on the e mail
of 
strange blog sites the latest with the surprising title "What is
Fear 
Of Dirt?"

Each year apparently this surprisingly common phobia causes
countless 
people needless distress. To add insult to an already distressing 
condition, most fear of dirt therapies take months or years and 
sometimes even require the patient to be exposed repeatedly to
their 
fear.

It is however believed that not only is this totally unnecessary,
it 
will often make the condition worse. And it is particularly cruel
as 
fear of dirt can be eliminated with the right methods and just 24 
hours of commitment by the phobic individual.
Known by a number of names - Rupophobia and Fear of Dirt being the 
most common - the problem often significantly impacts the quality
of  life.

It can cause panic attacks and keep people apart from loved ones
and 
business associates. Symptoms typically include shortness of
breath, 
rapid breathing, irregular heartbeat, sweating, nausea, and overall 
feelings of dread, although everyone experiences fear of dirt in 
their own way and may have different symptoms.

And so .... until Spring is Sprung and the Grass is Riz - look for
me 
under the feather duster or standing firmly arms akimbo, next to
the 
washing machine.

The biggest worry is, what happens when a Southern Hemisphere
visits 
the Northern Hemisphere, does the same primeval urge attack one in 
SPRING TIME there ?

I sincerely hope not cos I am totally all washed out !!

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