Call me old-fashioned, call me English?

The lad came over from Bristol yesterday, meeting friends and staying over with his mother. He came up to look at his grandmother's latest paintings, and as he left he became melancholy about how things have changed forever and how he will not be able to hug and embrace people as he has always done - for years to come.

I did not have the heart to tell him that this aspect of social distancing is one that I am quite relieved by. Prior to the plague I was beginning to find the obligation to hug and kiss male virtual strangers as soon as introduced almost intolerable. Sometimes I would refuse outright to go along with returning the hug of any male not in my family circle, but usually I would stand there stiffly and take it like a man, sometimes reaffirming my cooperation with a couple of half-hearted pats on the back. 

I had a policy of not cooperating with any offers of high-fives under any circumstances at all. This would always lead to someone standing in front of me for about 4 seconds, arm up, palm outwards and a pained expression on their face as I mumbled, 'no, shan't, won't' etc. until they got the message and left me alone. Same with fist-bumps. 

Of course, this has a lot to do with my upbringing, but you cannot blame your parents for everything right through your old age can you? Anyway, I don't see why I should be shamed or embarrassed into following whatever social more happens to be in trend at any given time. That way lies the roots of fascism and hysterical accusations of hate-speech.

Of course, I am more than willing to make allowances for women.