When was the last time you had a lollipop?

For me, it had been so long I canB次元官网网址檛 remember. So when the chance presented it recently, I took it.

I had purchased a kidB次元官网网址檚 meal at a fast food place for the rapidly growing 12-year-old in our house.

Turns out, it wasnB次元官网网址檛 nearly enough for his ravenous appetite, but thatB次元官网网址檚 a story for another day.

Within that B次元官网网址榯astes good, not so good for youB次元官网网址� package was a lollipop.

He left it behind.

B次元官网网址淵ou want that?B次元官网网址� I asked.

B次元官网网址淣o. Help yourself.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淢ost excellent,B次元官网网址� I thought.

I took off its plastic cover, got in one furtive lick before the other ravenous beast in the house B次元官网网址� the dog B次元官网网址� came rumbling over to see if it was a treat for him.

As I tried to slip past him, I dropped the lollipop.

Shouting B次元官网网址渘oB次元官网网址� at the dog, I grabbed quickly for the candy.

My internal monologue automatically went B次元官网网址渇ive-second rule.B次元官网网址�

That rule, of course, being the old adage that if you drop some food but pick it up within five seconds, there wonB次元官网网址檛 be enough time for nasty bacteria to attack.

I can still remember the exact minute I first heard the term. I was maybe five, and my Gramps was passing me a burger made on the barbecue. I dropped it and became instantly sad.

Gramps pounced, much like I did many times later in life, scooped it up and proclaimed B次元官网网址渇ive-second rule.B次元官网网址�

He explained it to me and I happily ate the burger with no ill effects.

I also didnB次元官网网址檛 understand how a little dirt would put hair on my chest, but I didnB次元官网网址檛 question that either.

Now, weB次元官网网址檙e able to immediately look up things like this, and I can quickly learn that scientific studies have shown that bacteria can transfer to food almost instantly upon contact with contaminated surfaces, regardless of how quickly you pick it up.

Dang.

Even knowing that, I still just gave the lollipop a quick rinse, finished it in about two chomps and that was that.

It got me wondering what type of other old gems of advice we used to get, and how they stand up today.

Remember B次元官网网址渄onB次元官网网址檛 sit within six feet of the TV or youB次元官网网址檒l go blindB次元官网网址�?

The parents said this, conveniently ignoring the fact we had to lie on the ground right in front of the TV to be low enough to avoid the cloud of toxic cigarette smoke that filled the room.

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 go outside with wet hair; youB次元官网网址檒l catch a cold.B次元官网网址�

I still think about that every time I go out after hopping in the shower B次元官网网址� even after looking it up and seeing colds are caused by viruses, not temperature exposure.

B次元官网网址淓ating carrots will improve your eyesight.B次元官网网址�

Maybe partially true, since Vitamin A is good for eye health, but I questioned that right from the start.

B次元官网网址淢um, how come you need glasses but youB次元官网网址檙e always eating carrots?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淗ow come Bugs Bunny canB次元官网网址檛 see like Superman?B次元官网网址�

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Another one:

B次元官网网址淚f you cross your eyes, theyB次元官网网址檒l stay that way.B次元官网网址�

This may have been meant to make me stop making goofy faces at my sister but even then I knew my eyes wouldnB次元官网网址檛 stay that way.

How did I know?

Because I went into the bathroom and timed how long I could hold the silly pose, and nothing happened.

B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 swallow gum; it takes seven years to digest.B次元官网网址�

This one was kind of scary.

I remember accidentally swallowing gum a few times as a kid and thinking it would be lodge in there and block things up. Today, I learn that you may not be able to digest it, but it proceeds through just like anything else.

Whew.

Along the same lines: B次元官网网址淚f you swallow watermelon seeds they will grow in your stomach.B次元官网网址�

This was also mildly scary, but watermelon was so good it was worth the risk.

B次元官网网址淐racking your knuckles causes arthritis.B次元官网网址�

Strictly designed to make you stop making the annoying sounds. For one, I didnB次元官网网址檛 know what arthritis was. But two, I do have arthritic knees, so maybe there was something there.

Can you remember old tales like that your parents told you? IB次元官网网址檇 love to hear them.

PQB B次元官网网址/VI Free Daily editor Philip Wolf welcomes your questions, comments and story ideas. He can be reached at 250-905-0019 or by email at philip.wolf@blackpress.ca.