ArcaMax

Maybe I could be a little more tolerant of their comments if I didn't have cancer, in addition to two other autoimmune issues.

The boyfriend -- and other friends who are fully aware of my situation -- don't seem to be concerned with how his/their remarks make me feel even more frightened than I already am.

I am already pretty much house-bound. There must be other people who feel the way I do?

-- Nervous and Annoyed

Dear Nervous: I'm sure there are many, many other people who feel as you do -- certainly those with underlying illnesses or health conditions which render them more susceptible to serious illness -- or death -- from flu or the Coronavirus.

Sometimes people joke about issues that are actually frightening, as a way to whistle past the graveyard.

Sometimes people joke about frightening issues because they are insensitive gits.

My sense is that you have some people in your life who present their own kind of viral toxicity. I wish there was a way to inoculate you against exposure to them. You should guard your health and work hard to keep your stress and panic in check.

Dear Amy: What do you say to a 50-ish woman who doesn't wash her hands after using the restroom?

I work in a large office building that houses around 20 professional businesses. There are common-area restrooms in the main hallways of the building. With regular flu going around and coronavirus ramping up, it seems like a no-brainer to wash one's hands.

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