Reporting freom an Eastern State.

Though I'm not a farmer, I mix with a lot of farmers socially and in the course of business.

A few days ago, I was at a gathering of 30-40 farmers, and none were wearing masks, maintaining social distances, and were acting like normal human beings, shaking hands, hugging, patting on arms and backs, and so forth, against all orders of our Herr Governor.

The ChinaFlu wasn't talked about that I heard, other than the dent it was making in the economy, how it was hurting milk prices and other products.

But I did overhear a conversation, a farm wife was laughing about when she went to the store lately, and saw all those people wearing masks. I can't quote her exactly, but basically, she said it was so stupid, hell, I get cow shit on me everyday, when I clean a milk cow's udders, if the cow shits when I got my face down there, I might get cow shit in my eyes or mouth! I just wipe it off on my sleeve and keep going. If I get cow shit on my hands, I just wipe it off, and don't go washing my hands a hundred times a day. Never hurt me a bit, us farmers are around germs all day every day, and we hardly ever get sick like a cold or flu. Everybody laughed in response, and nodded their heads, saying that's true! They just shook their heads at the craziness of city folk, and went about their business.

There was nothing political about it, nothing said about conspiracies or China, just plain old common sense.