Pollen-A-Go-Go

Starting about 2 weeks ago, when true sunniness started happening in Zurich after a long and severe winter, there have been pollen explosions happening daily except for the one or two days we have had rain. There was a full on pollen storm about a week ago...a bright sunny day with more breeze than is normal for Zurich. The next day when I woke up, a very shallow breath while lying back made my ribs hurt, which I found very scary. Since then my husband has had flu, I have had a severe cold, and we both have been simultaneously combating allergies. Doctor visits, blood tests and drugs. Coughing. Misery. The flu and cold seem to have receded, but we are both left with raspy hoarse voices. I am still achey and I feel like I am impersonating a french horn.

The thing about the pollen is how it infiltrates everything. I was not aware of what was happening at the time, so I did nothing to stop it coming in the house. In Zurich, central A/C is rare, and there are no window screens. Our house is on the ground and first levels, and there are wall size windows that open on two opposite sides of the whole house. The windows are always open. There are blooming bushes right outside the window, Rhododendrons and something else I don't know what, and I feel like we were just blasted. Everything is covered.

I keep dusting and using the vacuum with the awesome filtering, and I still taste it in the air. I am in the process of washing the sheepskin rugs from the floor and the chairs all over the house. I have eight. One was inherited and the others have been picked up new and used here and there. They are really cozy, but mine are now full of pollen deposits. Every cushion and textile is suspect. I want my house back. Back off pollen! (a-chooo!)