The Seasons Change- Us

Southern California has four distinct seasons: spring, summer, fall... and winter. Winter is kind of short. If you work indoors without windows, or went out of town for a few days you may have missed it.

This year spring began the last week of January, with the blooming of the ash and alder trees, the junipers and supposedly the Chinese Elms. I could tell. I couldn't actually tell which pollens were responsible, but I knew my eyes itched and watered, my nose ran, I felt constantly tired and was subject to furious bouts of uncontrollable sneezing. Pollen.com said the ash, alder and juniper pollens were up, and The Weather Channel suggested the Chinese Elm.

I watched my lifestyle choices change as I pursued comfort. If I kept still, less air moved. If I avoided aerobic activity (outdoors) I inhaled less pollen. If I kept the windows shut, and stayed indoors, that was even better. On some days it took me twenty minutes to an hour indoors to recover from a trip to the mailbox. I actually did make myself venture outside regularly, but I often kept my face covered. And, there are less pollens at the beach. (This year, on account of my approaching due date, and not wanting to come to the delivery already exhausted, I've avoided pollen like the plague.)

I began to wonder how much of my personality was shaped from early childhood by this small, otherwise irrelevant and usually overlooked determining factor, the seasonal allergy. No wonder from a very young age I quit breathing through my nose, always slept on my side, highly preferred washing dishes over yard work, avoided activity (especially outdoor activity) and was completely sedentary, spring was my least favorite season and I loved the beach.

I am beginning to seriously consider the Islamic practice of veiling.