One of those random childhood memories floating in my head happens to contain some of the worst advice I’ve ever received in my life.
Picture it: Sicily… er, the Chicago suburbs in the early 80s. A really hot summer’s day. I was helping my friend and his dad do some house painting. It was quite hot. We stopped to take a break and catch our breaths when I lamented that I was really thirsty.
My friend’s dad said in a blunt manner, “Thirsty? Swallow your spit.”
I thought, “My spit? But my spit isn’t Kool-Aid!”
And he was serious, too. Instead of letting us get even a sip of water from a garden hose he insisted that we let the magical power of saliva somehow manage to refresh and rejuvenate our bodies and our spirits. I guess people stranded in the desert (there are many) should just swallow their spit, too.
Incredibly bad advice. What’s yours?
Posted in Everyday Life