Tissue & Me

As the window opens, I catch a small breeze.  It feels nice.  It’s the time of year when shorts or sweats can be worn comfortably.  I look at the little black box on my desk. O. M. G. It’s covered with pollen. I let out a deep sigh and shake my head wondering who in the world opened the window. The breeze no longer feels nice. I have daggers in my nose and what feels like fingernails scratching my skin like a chalkboard. I’m itching all over. Even my hair itches. As I vigorously scratch my head, many strands of hair come out. My hair is dry. I have yet to find a product that keeps my skin and hair moisturized without making me sneeze or break out in hives. If you have a suggestion, leave it in the comment section. For the most part, I’m cool. I’m calm. I shout at the being who opened the window to close it (not really, in my head I screamed as loud as I could). The window is closed and we go about our daily activities.

Within a matter of minutes, I can’t breathe and my head feels tight. My conversations are now nasally and uncomfortable and I’m again confronted with the accusation of having a cold. Does everyone think that I have a constant cold? Does a cold make you itch? Break out into hives? I’m really asking a question. For a friend. I’m the friend. The friend is I.  Like, really? Have you ever met someone who had a cold for 365 days? I no longer explain that I’m not “sick”. I shrug my shoulders and keep going on about my day. I pack my belongings because the work day is over. I am dreading the walk to my car. Everything within sight is covered in dusty pollen. The door handle is completely yellow. I hate touching it. I ask myself why didn’t I get gloves or cover my hand with a plastic bag. I sit down in the car and pressure builds up in my head. After a few moments of intense sinus pressure, I begin to sneeze many times. The pressure is now gone but now my nose is running faster than an Olympian. I grab my faithful passenger (tissue, for those of you who don’t know) and blow like a trumpet and begin my teary-eyed journey home.

I recently (3-11-2023) purchased the Shark Air Purifier with the True HEPA Filter . This thing is AMAZING! It senses odors in the air (don’t boil eggs or the sensor will let you know lol). It’s quiet and provides a cool breeze when you walk by. Hopefully, it will help my family with our allergies, especially during pollen season.

Don’t forget the latex gloves! No one wants pollen dust on their clothes!