ELI5: How does one catch COVID-19?

We had a thread that got a lot of upvotes the other day, but it wasn't ELI5. So I am going to try again. <br><br>The CDC says COVID-19 is spread from person to person through respiratory droplets that people sneeze, cough, or talk into the air. So how does that work, exactly, especially with all the emphasis on washing your hands? How does a sneeze turn into something on my hand? I get it if I'm talking to someone, or standing near someone who is, but what about when you're walking down the street? Or walking by someone in a store? I just don't get how one can "catch" those germs unless they land in your eyes or something. No one in my life has caught it, but that's not going to last forever.<br><br>Thanks!!