I have been really lucky in the past. While many of the people around me were affected by the typical sneezing and runny noses, I've always been able to get away pretty much scott free each year. Until this year. It appears that it's finally caught up with me. Oh I've gotten the occasionaly sneeze in past years, but it was hardly worth mentioning. This year, however, my allergies have kicked it up a notch. All this frequent sneezing and sniffing not caused by an actual cold is a whole new world to me.

I guess I shouldn't complain. Although annoying, my symptoms are actually very mild compared to what some of my friends are experiencing. While playing golf, one of them actually got a nosebleed because he blew his nose so much! Every time he'd stand over the ball getting ready to hit, his nose would start dripping and you would hear him pull it all back up with a great big, loud sniff. I can only imagine how miserable he feels when allergies get as bad as that. If not for his love of the game, I think he would have called it quits and gone home.

This past weekend, while working on the yard and again while hiking, I got a couple of annoying sneezing attacks, as well as watery eyes. Nothing to write home about.. but for someone who's NEVER experienced it before, it's definitely a change. I'm hoping that this is a fluke year, that I'll be back to my normal self next year. They say that allergies develop over a period of years. Maybe they've finally fully developed in me and are here to stay. I hope that is not the case! Time will tell.