Allergies hit home

I don't have allergies; but my husband has suffered from allergies most of his life. He takes regular shots to keep some of the symptoms from being troublesome. His father also suffered from allergies. Some of our children have inherited the tendency to have allergies. I tell them that they can blame their father for that, because I don't have allergies.

Well, I do have an unpleasant digestive problem if I eat onions or garlic.

But that isn't an allergy. That is just intolerance to certain foods.

Sometimes I tell others that I am allergic to these spicy vegetables, just because it is easier to say that as to explain the whole sad story. But I don't have allergies.

Some people go through certain seasons with stuffed up noses or dripping noses. Others have watery eyes, itchy eyes, problems with breathing or worse conditions; but, fortunately I don't have allergies.

Several times in the past I have lost my voice when I was tired and had some slight symptoms of a cold. The cold usually never materialized, and after a few days of whispers and croaking I would regain my voice. Of course, that was not the result of allergies -- just overuse of my vocal chords, fatigue or a slight cold.

It seems that many of the episodes coincided with a trip or presentation I was taking with my sister.

Years ago we went to Norman, Okla., after the death of our aunt. At a dinner that honored her, I couldn't speak above a whisper. Since I was there with my sister and another aunt, of course I wanted to talk -- but the more I pushed it, the worse my voice became.

More recently my sister and I were among a group of writers who were giving a writing workshop here at Cottey College. I was to do some readings as well as present the portion on writing memoirs. I croaked out some of the presentation and then had to have my daughter cover me by doing some of my readings for me.

Last week, my sister and I went to Harrisonville to give a presentation. I helped with one reading.

My voice was getting a little raspy but I didn't worry about it. Several in the group commented that they were having throat and voice problems because of the pollen in the air and the high winds. It wasn't the pollen that was affecting me because I don't have allergies.

It was just the strain from the non-stop talking between my sister and me.

My voice continued to get worse as the day progressed. But we continued visiting until after supper when I had to call a halt to talking. I not only couldn't make myself heard; it was painful to try it. I did the unthinkable.

I went to bed early when I had company. As I fell asleep I could see Ellen still reading in the living room.

Morning came very early due to daylight saving time coming on, but my voice didn't wake up with the rest of me. At church, people avoided me for fear I would give them my condition. Then someone had the nerve to say that they thought I must have been suffering from allergies to the pollen and high winds.

I started to protest that I don't have allergies, but decided to give it up.

Maybe it is better to own up to an allergy as to have folks avoiding me. My eyes did itch. My nose was running, and my throat was irritated even when I didn't try to speak.

I thought about this, and decided that maybe I am allergic. I may be allergic to my sister!