Springtime in the South

Today I’m not addressing any of the world’s problems. Despite the withdrawal of the Russian Ambassador to NATO, or Japan taking the position that any missiles originating from North Korea will be shot down, I’m going to address a more pressing issue that is much closer to home. You ready? Okay, welcome to the South! Each year during spring, while baseball parks are opening up and flowers start growing again, we have to deal with an insidious invasion of pollen. Regardless of how many times, or how often, you sweep or blow off your cars, decks, etc., the world retains a strange yellowish/green hue. Pollen counts are through the roof, and everyone suffers from some sort of cough, wheeze, or other respiratory ailment. This year is no exception, and it is obvious that as the layers of this toxic dust cover all surfaces, misery will take the form of constant nose running, hay fever, or worse. Sadly, by the time this stuff begins to abate, the temperatures will rise to a level that will make most of us equally miserable. This is the ONLY down side to moving to a place that doesn’t sell snow shovels. ~ Michael S. Pauley