Cold

I keep trying to tell myself it's just bad, bad allergies. But I think it's a cold. On the other hand, as Jim points out, since a cold is a virus, and there's no cure, you can only treat the symptoms. Which, it turns out, you treat with exactly the same stuff as allergies: antihistamines, ibuprofen, decongestant, and lots and lots of Kleenex.

When I was a kid, I used to get "colds" that lasted for up to three months. As an adult, I now realize I didn't have three-month-long colds--there's no such thing. There are, however, three-month-long bouts of allergies brought on by living in a house with a three-pack-a-day smoker. (Notice the symmetry....) Funny how after my dad (the smoker) died, I rarely had a cold or even allergies (not for many years anyway). What a coincidence.

Last week marked the 32nd anniversary of Dad's death. My brother would probably say this week's cold was a sign that my resistance was down, sort of out of respect for Dad. My brother's probably right.