Last night, I flew from Dulles to Atlanta to visit with my parents for a few days, as well as pick up my grandmother’s car to drive back to Maryland. She can’t drive long distances anymore because of a back injury, so I’ve offered to help each of the last three years. Lori said she was looking forward to a weekend with just her and Ty, and I’m hoping that he will be good for her.

(Picture left: My dad, my nephew and my mom)

I love spending time with my family, and I really wish that they lived closer to us. My parents and I have grown closer over the years, and I wish that they could spend more time with the kids. My mom is getting close to retirement at her work (2 years), so hopefully things will change in the future.

As my dad and I were leaving the airport last night, I noticed that all of the cars were covered in yellow dust. The pollen was out in full force – it was like Mother Nature blew her nose all over the entire city of Atlanta. I sneezed. I rubbed my eyes. I could feel my throat begin to scratch a little. I seriously don’t know how I survived growing up here, but my allergies didn’t start until I was in my mid-20s.

How is that people grow into allergies? I thought you were supposed to grow out of things like this.

When we got up this morning, my dad needed some help moving the boat. As soon as I got up, my nose started running. I used to take three different kinds of medicine every day to counter the effects of my allergies, but I made a decision six months ago to stop taking them. Why? I was pissed that our insurance considered all of my medicines premium and jacked up the price to around $100 per month. Around the same time, a friend of mine got season tickets to the Ravens games, and he offered for me to go with him to eight games for $350. I couldn’t pass it up, so I decided to take the money for medicine and put it toward something more important – FOOTBALL!

Anyway, I didn’t have any of my normal medicines with me this morning, and I didn’t expect to come down here and be physically accosted by Mother Nature. I took some over-the-counter stuff, but it hasn’t seemed to work.

My dad needed help moving the boat this morning, so I went with him out to the lake. We had a good time on the drive out talking about everything from family to kids to work. The older I’ve gotten the more he and I have become friends. My dad is the kind of fun guy that you would enjoy hanging out with, and he is a very good man.

After we got back from the lake, I made the mistake of rubbing one of my eyes. Within a minute, it was burning red and itching. Whether you realize it or not, the pollen sticks to every inch of your body and clothes – it’s like rolling around inside a bag of Cheetos.

I washed my hands and rinsed my face, but I had to get something more to clear my eyes. We decided to go see the movie Leatherheads starring George Clooney this afternoon, and we stopped off at CVS along the way to get some drops. I’m sure I looked like a drunk or drug addict coming off a two-week binder to the girl at the register, especially when I rushed outside, tore open the box and poured the stuff in my eyes for a momentary relief. Visine is crack in a bottle to people with eye allergies.

The movie was pretty good, and my allergies stayed calm in the climate controlled environment. When we got home, I took my grandmother’s car up to wash and get gas. I was only outside for about fifteen minutes, but it was long enough to get me going again. Allergies suck!

I’m here for one more day, before driving back up to Maryland. We’re supposed to go play golf tomorrow, which is usually one of my favorite things to do with my dad (even though I suck at it – put me in front of a little white ball and, for some reason, it just flips the kill switch in me). I’m going to load up on medicine tonight; and, thankfully, we’re staying indoors for the rest of the evening.

I seriously don’t know how I made it through ten years of living down here. If I had to live here now, I would definitely have to be highly medicated. That would mean not going to football games and tailgaiting with the fellas – not gonna happen! I love my parents very much, but I’m about over Mother Nature right now.

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