Hi, Confused. No reason to worry, help is on the way. You are absolutely right about muddy being the new clean. I mean, being clean is so 20th century, so 1950s, so easy, you know? We've entered a New Muddy Age, where getting outside and getting dirty is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, getting muddy means that you've done something, you've interacted with nature in some way, you've let yourself be enveloped by the life-giving mixture of water and dirt, and you've taken a step towards a cleaner Puget Sound. Even if it's only the bottoms of your boots that get muddy, it's the intent that counts. It's time for a paradigm shift, Confused. I know that the people who sell antibacterial hand sanitizers and disposable cutting boards would like you to believe that getting dirty is to be avoided at all costs. But I, the Mud Monster, am here to enlighten you and tell you that getting muddy is healthy and fun and the right thing to do. So put your boots on (or go barefoot, for an extra-muddy time) and get outside and get muddy for the Sound!

(I'm such a mud booster sometimes that I embarass myself. But I'm made of mud, so what do you expect me to say?)