Orli Bendor

"Achoo!"

Silence.

"Achoo!"

Silence.

Sound familiar? Last week I was sick. Sneezing, coughing, aching and complaining. Soon into my sick week, my complaints turned from feeling under the weather to realizing that no one on the UA campus says "bless you." Call it a random act of kindness or simple common courtesy, whatever it is, the "bless you" needs to come back.

The effects of the "bless you" are positive for the blesser and the sneezer alike.

Sure, maybe I go overboard with the "bless yous," startling strangers and yelling across the street, but most of the time the receiver is grateful rather than weirded out. About once a minute last week, I sneezed. Looking back to when I was on campus - being the devoted student I am, I still went to classes, and I managed to squeeze in a couple visits to the bars, too - I can't think of one "bless you" I got other than from people I know, those people being more than familiar with my "bless you" standards. I should note, too, that I never do the discrete, half-sneeze. My sneezes are loud and noticeable.

What is it that prevents people - more specifically, UA students - from partaking in this exchange? I think it's one or all of three things. First, the blesser is afraid the sneezer will want to have some long conversation. Wrong! If someone says "bless you" to me, I thank him or her, feel about a million times better and go about my business. I think this is pretty standard behavior.

Second, the blesser is unsure about blessing etiquette. If you are at a funeral in the middle of a eulogy or witnessing some historic moment, you can probably let the "bless you" slide. Likewise, if you are engaged in a conversation and hear a sneeze from afar, it is understandable to skip the bless you. It is more than appropriate, however, to utter the words when it is just you and another on the sidewalk or your neighbor in lecture.

Third, maybe the prospective blesser forgets what it's like to sneeze and get a "bless you" in return. Just to refresh some memories: it's great. It must release some endorphins because hearing those words puts a smile on my face and energizes me.

So what do you say, Wildcats? Can we bring the "bless you" back? With two short words, we could make this campus happier and friendlier. While we're at it, maybe we should smile at that person we pass by every day between classes or the Circle K clerk who rings up the morning coffee. Because then, when you're having a bad day and don't feel like smiling at anybody, someone else will flash you their pearly whites and infect you with pleasantry. Well, that formula may be a little too optimistic and perfect.

So at least for now, can we start with a "bless you?"