BETWEEN THE LINES: BEAUTIFUL TREES AND FLOWERS CAN BE DOOM FOR ALLERGY SUFFERER

Allergy sufferers know that blooming trees and flowers can mean hours of sneezing and wheezing.

I nearly laughed out loud when I read the press release that said trees make a world of difference in our communities.

No one knows that better than an allergy sufferer.

Just ask me.

The press release came from the National Arbor Day Foundation, which had just named Cape Girardeau as a Tree City USA.

It mysteriously landed on my desk sometime over the weekend. It said this is the first year Cape has earned such an honor.

I dutifully read the information and wrote a story so that every one of the paper's readers would know about the honor. And it prevents disgruntled city workers, Arbor Day representatives and newspaper editors from hassling me.

Even as I was typing, I kept thinking about how deceitful those trees really are. You see, I know that trees, as green and lush and necessary for oxygen as they are, cause great problems when spring comes.

While trees are wonderful to look at, allergy sufferers know that those blooming trees and flowers can mean fits of sneezing and wheezing.

With nearly every plant and tree in bloom, I tried to spend part of my weekend outdoors enjoying the lush greenery. And I needed to finish some outdoor chores before the forecasted rain showers hit.

What the work turned into was an all-out war between Mother Nature and my allergies. I lost the battle, needless to say. And a spring rain usually calms my allergy attacks.

During the afternoon outdoors, I attempted to pull up weeds and till my flower bed in between sneezing fits, but the tears forming in my eyes, made it hard to see.

Eventually I gave up and went indoors, but to no avail. I'd had too much of the great outdoors for my own good. Even inside, I continued to sneeze because the windows were open.

I know I could have easily closed the windows, but then I wouldn't be able to feel the breeze and freshen the house.

Spring air only comes around once a year, and I try not to miss feeling the breeze as it flaps the curtains. Besides, there's no better way to sleep, in my opinion, than under an open window in spring.

Of course, the next day I could barely breathe, and my throat itched terribly. At least my eyes weren't red and puffy, yet -- that symptom usually comes later in the spring anyway.

Of course, when I lived in Florida I never had this problem, which was a nice relief from the watery eyes, itchy throat and constant sneezing. My allergies tend to make me more irritable, as well. So I'm sure that my friends and co-workers enjoy being around me more when I am not suffering from an allergy attack.

Despite my acute attacks and bouts of sneezing, I still like to spend time outside. Maybe that's why God inspired someone to invent antihistamines and such.

Those wonder drugs -- prescribed each season by my faithful doctor -- keep me going strong through another year of blooming flowers and plants in the newest Tree City USA.

~Laura Johnston is a copy editor for the Southeast Missourian.