Thursday, July 26, 2012

My lips will not touch that thing!

My country cousins did not have running water in the 1950s. They had a hand pump in the yard and they'd draw a bucket of water from the well. If the kids were thirsty, they'd dip the blue enamel dipper in that bucket and sip, slurp, swallow, then hang it back on the nail for the next person who came along parched, with his tongue hanging out from play.

City slicker that I was, the thought of drinking after others made me sick. Boy cousin cooties, germy unbrushed teeth, back wash, floaters, YUCK!

We took ten year old Nicholas and four year old Nicole for a rootbeer float and I asked if he'd be willing to share with his sister. I recognized the look on his face. That had to be my expression the first time I realized it was a shared dipper and to quench my thirst, it was do or die. I did it!

"Umm, Nana, I sort of have a little bit of a problem drinking after other people, especially my sister."

I hugged him and said, "Buddy, I understand."

In high school when the kids were dumping peanuts in Cokes and passing the bottle around, I would not partake. 

 Is it just me and Nicholas? Do you have an aversion to drinking after others?



12 comments:

Karen Lange said...

I'm with you, I don't really care to either. Although my husband and I share sometimes, but I'm less likely to see backwash like I would with my grandson. :)

Pat Wahler said...

Sharing drinks...yucky. Especially when there are floaters.

Pat
Critter Alley

Val said...

Yes. Now.

I used to carry a big plastic cup filled with ice water, which I drank through a straw. Every now and then, my oldest son, a pre-schooler at the time, would ask for a sip. I flipped the straw over, and thought nothing of it. Until the day I poured out the last inch of liquid that I had not consumed. It was as brown as the Mississippi River. I suppose it was the mini candy bars his grandma liked to feed him.

Sioux Roslawski said...

I don't really mind drinking after my husband or a close friend (to "taste" something). However, there are certainly people I would not drink after.

Susan said...

I'm with you on the water scoop, Linda. No thanks. (Unless I was truly parched. Then I'd sip. ha ha ha ) Susan

Joanne Noragon said...

I was part of the bucket/dipper brigade at two cousins' homes in the forties. One pump was outside the back door, but the other was in the kitchen sink. I loved them both and drank like a country kid. Doubt I would do it now.

Susan Sundwall said...

This is where the tail of your shirt comes in real handy. Wipe it off. At least what's on the shirt is your dirt. =0)

Southhamsdarling said...

I am with you all the way Linda! I wouldn't want to use that scoop to drink after others. I suppose you could always give it a really good wipe off first, but that would look a bit 'girly', wouldn't it?!

Bookie said...

I am not wild about sharing my mouth...but will under necessary circumstances...

Kim Lehnhoff said...

My mother prohibited sharing of drinks. One time I let a neighbor lick my popsicle, and I was severely punished for that infraction.

It's not likely that I'd willingly share my drink with anyone, though my husband has grabbed my drink and had some - and I let him finish it.

Tammy said...

I bought his excuse till he added "especially my sister." Love it. For me it depends on who the "others" were. And of course those floaters.

Lynn said...

I'll sip after certain people - those I know who will not leave any floaters. Usually husband, kids or siblings.