Here at St. Cloud’s

Trent recently heard a story on NPR about the overly sterile environment in which “we” live and the resulting surge of allergies.  Hands are washed, floors are mopped with Lysol.  Dishwashers sterilize dishes every night. 

I’m rereading The Cider House Rules.  In the book, Dr. Larch, head of the St. Cloud’s orphanage, spends his nights writing A Brief History of St. Cloud’s.  Every entry begins either “Here at St. Cloud’s…” or “In other parts of the world…”

In other parts of the world, people develop allergies because their immune systems don’t know how to deal with a lack of germs to fight.  Here at our house, there is zero chance of that happening.