Because I'm such a delicate flower

Living in DC means having allergies, as far as I can tell. And whatever is blooming right now is really getting to me.

Which would be pretty much anything and everything. Except the cherry blossoms. Their lovely little pink blooming faces are done for the season, aren't they?

I've had allergy testing a plethora of times over the years. The scratch tests on your back. The injections up and down your arms. And every time? It turns out I'm allergic to a shocking number of things on this planet.

So if you've ever had allergy shots, you know that there's an indoor arm and an outdoor arm.

Indoor being cats and dust and mold and things like, um, housework? I wish they would test for that. I'm sure I am.

And outdoor would be grass, trees, and I don't know what all. Pretty much everything between the sun and the earth except clouds. And butterflies. I don't think I'm allergic to butterflies. In fact, I don't think they test for bugs. Do people have bug allergies?

It would be so convenient to be allergic to liars or men with huge issues. Wouldn't it be great to start sneezing or itching when you're around someone who is going to be bad for you? You'd be on a date and get a rash and know it was time to say goodbye.

Anyway.

I can't remember which one is worse for me in general, but currently, I should be indoors with the windows shut tight. Which is so hard to do.

Because I love love love spring when everything is blooming. I look at bright, happy yellow daffodils like little espresso shots - the best way to wake up in the morning.

And running in the sunshine is one of my favorite things. I'm always sticking my nose in someone's flowers on my way down the street. Lilacs are my favorite, and they remind me of my grandmother. Dogwood makes me so happy. I love azaleas - the light pink ones in particular - more than is reasonable. I just beam when I see them.

But I do recognize they're not really my friends. I'm not doing myself any favors with the nose-flower-sticking-inning. When I do sit ups in the grass on my way home from a run I itch all the way to the shower. And it's an itch you can't scratch, or it turns into welts.

Our dog Gloria used to roll around in the grass, and then when I saw her I'd pick her up and hug all over her. And then eventually have to go wash my arms before it got too bad. And my neck if she'd snuggled under it. Itch itch.

I was going to say an itch is not such a huge price to pay for love, but I've gotta say, it really depends on where. And the cause.

From spring flowers to odd itches. Is not actually where I intended to go with this.

And that's all I've got to say about that.