Gesundheit!!

Growing up, I had uncles and aunts in rural areas scattered across Whatcom County, (the most northwestern county in Washington). My relatives really had a thing for furry critters of all shapes and sizes. As a kid I had a few goldfish, a dog for just under a year, and a few frogs which never seemed to enjoy the dixie-cup terrariums I designed for them. Aside from a few instances with the fish, I never had a pet-able pet, primarily because every time I touched an animal with fur I'd swell up like a blimp and explode in hives. My eyes would water and my breathing became incredibly labored whenever I was near a dog or cat. As my poor auntie bore testament to, even horses set me off. I had crippling allergies which would throw me into minute-long sneezing fits. I had to load up on antihistamines before visiting either of my childhood best friends, because if I didn't god knows I'd sure pay for it.

"Bless you." "Excuse you." "Kazundhide." "Danny, that's enough, knock it off."

Kazundhide was always my favorite. I had absolutely no idea what the person saying it was trying to say, but it always came out sounding like a drunken slur. I went through the first fifteen years of my life with no idea what kazundhide meant, but that doesn't mean I didn't use it every chance I got- it made me feel intelligent and cultured. I later learned in one of my high-school German classes that the word was actually Gesundheit-  which translates to health. 

Sneezing is one of the more ridiculous spasmodic reactions of the human body- it occurs when the nasal mucous membrane is irritated, and fires a shotgun-blast of mucous and spit into the air at an incredibly high speed. A myth developed during the Renaissance that sneezing momentarily caused the heart to stop beating- thus saying "bless you" would revitalize, or protect the sneezer from a sure mucous-firing doom. Gesundheit- or wishings of good health- is the German equivalent of  "bless you." 

If anything, I suppose the purpose of this post is to draw attention to a word that so many people, at least in my experiences, don't understand. Gesundheit. Tidings of good health, as I impart unto you.