Spring is here, pollen is high and I have been receiving the blessings of strangers.

Blessings in a country more secular than the one I grew up in.
Blessings for a body more secular than the one I grew up in.

A sneeze is an exorcism of the Devil from my body and I must be blessed lest He return. A sneeze is the harbinger of Plague and only blessing will save my soul. Thanking the blesser invites the Devil back in. Not thanking the blesser expedites the demise of a fairy.

I must take my chances.

Blessings are expected from the mouths of those I love, but are strange on the lips of a stranger. A hand on my head, bread and wine in my throat. Just a couple of words as they pass me by. They smile, they turn away, they are gone by the time I hear them – but still they have blessed me.

And the Devil must be strong in me because I can never sneeze just once.

So on the street the strangers say bless you, bless you, bless you.
And I say thank you, thank you, thank you.

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A version of this post was sent by email on the 21st October 2017 as part of Internet Care Package.

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