Spring has arrived in Tallahassee. This means beautiful clear blue sky days and cool mornings. Afternoons are warm but still only low 80s; nothing like what summer will bring (100 EVERY DAY). We get sudden random violent storms like last night. On my way to the pharmacy, I witnessed a beautiful golden honey and egg blue sunset to the west. Behind me was a ruddy rust colored cloud bank tinged with grayish blue storm clouds. Then the bottom just dropped out. People around the city reported hail. I just heard a torrential downpour. Elliot couldn’t sleep. But then it ended as quickly as it began and the air felt clean.

My boss and I were just talking yesterday about needing a night rain to cleanse our city of the pollen. It is exceptionally thick this spring. Cars are, of course, coated in it but my symptoms are worse than ever. I think that’s saying something, considering that I have suffered from allergies since I was a child. I finally broke down and got a script for a nasal spray to use in conjunction with Allegra. So far, it seems to be working.

Spring is so ironic. I want to be outside in the wondrous beauty and yet, it does me wrong. But I cannot lie; I love seeing everything blooming and smelling different flowers. There’s a route I walk in our neighbourhood that presents me with about five or six different fragrances; the entire walk is one big scent experience. And then I go back inside and wipe my watering eyes and take another pill.