As for gloves – I’ve always had difficulty with fitting because of large hands, so the prospect is not too appealing to me. But ladies wore them for hundreds of years mainly because “ladies” were supposed to have soft hands. Gloves not only kept the hands soft but also free of cuts, scratches, callouses and dirt (much harder to clean hands when there’s no running water!).

Since we have not only running water, but also anti-bacterial lotion – I don’t forsee gloves becoming a big deal again – mainly because people like the freedom of gloveless hands.

But the elbow rub seems silly, so why not adapt the Japanese bow?

The bow advances elements of respect and honor. Also it seems like a pleasant way to greet someone. Most important, you don’t have to touch anyone during the exchange.

Now, if we can only figure out a way to make a face mask socially acceptable, any suggestions?

One small twist: kids today, at least the ones I know, including my 5-year-old, have been taught to sneeze or cough in their elbows, not their hands. So their arms might be just as “germ-y” as everything else.

Communication advancements make people more aware of each others’ imperfections and potential dangers, which, along with greater ability to communicate and scrutinize at a distance, is making nearly all physical contact not merely obsolete, but potentially hazardous.

Would you hug a guy who’s listed as a sex offender? Or who might be?

Ya, think of the possibilities. I could run a magnet over your head and make you forget all sorts of things, if not go psychotic and schizophrenic and other things.

The real question is, if a human lived to be 500 years old, would his brain run out of memory space?