Pretty much everyone knows Austin as "The Live Music Capital of the World." You may not know that it is also referred to as "The Allergy Capital of the World." The seasonal allergies I experience in Austin are probably my single complaint about this incredible city. Every year like clockwork, when the middle of December comes around, my nose instantly begins to run, my eyes start to water uncontrollably, my head starts to feel like a balloon, and I feel like a zombie for a week or so. I did get my usual 7 to 10 days of allergies this past December, but I am also currently in the throes of an encore attack as of yesterday, courtesy of cedar fever (yes it's a real thing!).
If you've never experienced allergies, you might be skeptical of the alleged severity or even existence of allergies. However, if you've ever suffered from them, regularly or just once, you, like me, know that they are very, very real. One of the tough parts is you're not contagious, so you feel like you should go about your normal schedule, but when it comes down to it, just functioning at a normal level is a struggle. And a lot of times, people give you a hard time and say things like "it's just allergies, what's the big deal?" Oh how I envy their blissful ignorance. I'm really not trying to whine or complain, just commiserating with fellow allergy sufferers in Austin and elsewhere, and discussing an aspect of life in Central Texas. As terrible as allergies and all their side effects are, it's a price I'll pay to live in the one and only Austin, Texas.
A ray of sunshine in the fog of sinus pressure and tissue piles was the fact that adult education classes resumed yesterday at LifeWorks and thus my wonderful students returned. It was great to hear about their holidays and see how eager they were to get right back to work. While the allergies don't completely go away, they do fade somewhat when I'm teaching and interacting with my students, so I'm sticking to a strict regimen of teaching and daily antihistamines.
It is definitely the allergy capital of the world. It's funny because I never had allergies before moving to Texas, which is something I have heard many other people say as well. Now...I am an allergy magnet. Cedar, dust, whatever is in Austin's air, it is killing me on a regular basis. I sympathize completely. And I will be the first to buy a portable air filter or rebreather when they start selling them at the store.
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