Surviving the allergy season

We're on the cusp of a beautiful time of year in Grand Rapids. The daffodils and tulips are out, the star magnolia trees are blossoming - perhaps a bit thinner than usual due to bud loss - and the leaves on the maples and blossoms on the regular magnolias are peeking out, preparing to wow us with their loveliness.

Plenty of us will be viewing all of this through hazy, watery eyes and keeping kleenex handy for the next little bit, however. Allergy season is upon us.  Of course, everyone is different. Some people may have problems with the leaf detritus left on the ground, a result of leaves falling late and snow falling early. When that gets raked up, as much of it has been already, things will improve. But for people with pollen allergies, it'll get worse before it gets better.

Here's a link to the Weather Channel's 4-day Pollen Count for Grand Rapids so you can know what to expect. It looks like this weekend might be challenging. If you have allergies, keep the windows closed, and get a family member who's not so allergic to do a thorough cleaning and vacuuming of your house. There are a number of natural remedies you might try for relief, including using a neti pot, but limiting your exposure to the allergen is your best bet.

As the Dutch say, "Gezondheid!"