No Spitting, Please

List of Presidents of the United States (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As a young man George Washington had to transcribe by hand (what? no laptops?) “The Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour In Company and Conversation (of which there were 110.)  Many were rules about proper etiquette (a long-lost art of powdered wig time.)

A colleague of mine recently had a breakfast meeting with a fellow head-honcho to discuss strategies (or whatever people talk about over juice and toast.)  I know of this particular head-honcho so I could picture the scenario.  He said that while HH was talking, small particles of spit spewed forth in his direction at the table. 

Ewww.  George Washington would be appalled.  I recalled GW’s rules and thought it needed some updating to erase this severe infraction forever.

George Washington’s Rules of Civility #12:

Shake not the head, Feet, or Legs roll not the Eyes lift not one eyebrow higher than the other wry not the mouth, and bedew no mans face with your Spittle, by approaching too near him when you Speak.

Buddha Balboa’s Rules of Oh No You Didn’t #17:

Show not up in garments that resemble a wrinkled bedsheet nor put forth excess mouth moisture upon one’s breakfast companions omelet.

– BB