(Originally Written Wednesday, February 23rd, 2006)

I feel obligated to write something. I didn't turn off my computer so I should likely write something. That doesn't make much sense to you but on my end of the page it is clear as crystal.

I'll be quick about it, today's topic: Get the flu shot! I can't stress this enough. There are only three reasons for not getting the flu shot.

Reason the first states that you can catch the flu from the shot. INCORRECT! WRONG! The flu shot is dead flu vireo. When you're injected with it your white blood cells scout out its weakness so when they encounter live flu vireo they can kill them. (I've dumbed it down but those are the basics).

Reason the second, I don't want to get my body used to it because it won’t work later if I do. WRONG AGAIN, MABLE! Despite the flu shot changing every year, there is also the fact that you can't get over-used to dead cells. You're thinking of antibiotics. If you use them for every little scrape, headache and ouchie then your body will eventually become used to them and they will stop working. Again, this is highly over simplified but the point is it won’t happen with the flu shot.

Lastly, I forget when flu season is. This is always the reason I use. When my Oma was still alive and living near us I got the flu shot every year because, though the flu is just a shitty weekend for us, for the elderly it CAN BE FATAL. If you have children around it CAN BE FATAL. I only hang with teenagers and middle-agers. I guess they're young adults now because I'm a young adult now. You hear that? We're growing up! We've out-classed ourselves! Go us!

So, in conclusion, get the damn flu shot. You're not just protecting yourself; you're protecting our city's elderly and young. Not to mention it's just good manners because when you contract it and then come around people like me who have no memory then I'll catch it too. My New Year's Resolution this year was to get the flu shot. We'll see if I do it this fall.

Happily not puking,

Doctor 

PS I know I'm tempting fate with this article. Murphy's law says I'm going to get the flu tomorrow. Luckily for me I don't believe in Murphy's Law. I believe in God. Would God give me the flu because I said I don't have it? I don't know. I'll ask Him when I get There. 

PPS MY WEB PROCESSOR HAS ACTUALLY STAYED AS CANADIAN ENGLISH!! It’s a miracle. Devin, explain please, why I set it to Canadian English as default every morning when I wake up but today it starts that way?