Small Town in Spring With Sinuses

That sounds like a still life, and yesterday, for me, it was. Most of the trees and many of the smaller plants are blooming, and it's visually beautiful but the physical effects on some of us are less so. Something is rotten in the state of me, just like every other spring I can remember since college. If I were simply stuffed up, that would be fine. But in some people congestion creates an inflammation that makes you woozy and lightheaded, and the general reaction to the pollen makes me deeply exhausted. Mostly I laid in bed, occasionally reading, or just petting the cat in a half-doze. The warm air wafted in the open window, along with the sounds of cars going by and people calling to each other, dogs barking, the buzz and clank of yard tools, airplanes going by, and the occasional gust of wind as the sky darkened and storm cells went past in a stately glide, like sailing ships. So you see I'm not really complaining. It was very pleasant to just lie there, dozing and thinking. Even if you don't have allergies, you sometimes need that.

I did rouse myself to pick up my taxes, since it was the only opportunity. I love my accountant service—I thought for sure I'd have to pay a whopping amount this year, but just like in previous years they actually figured I'm due a refund, in an amount that either is whopping or very nearly whops, depending on how you define it. A tidy sum, at any rate. I don't know how they do it, and although I'm sure they're very scrupulous it's clear they don't want me to (ahem) overpay. Have you ever traveled in a developing country and gotten on a bus with a smiling, carefree driver who proceeds to barrel that bus along the edge of mountain switchbacks with sheer cliffs inches from the wheels? You close your eyes—you don't want to see—and you just hope that the driver is enjoying his life as much as you're enjoying yours. Then the ride ends and you get off, happy to have arrived in one piece at your intended destination, and trembling just a little. That's how I feel when these people get me a refund every year. They make me happy but it's a nervous happy.

Then I went to get stuff at the supermarket for sandwiches. There was a sale on both Virginia and tavern ham, so I asked what the difference was. The woman at the counter said that tavern ham has a smoky flavor. "I guess that's because everyone's smoking in the tavern," I said, miming it, and she laughed. Usually I get a look of silent, bovine incomprehension when I say things like that.

And those were the two most constructive things I did all day. I'll be more of a Puritan today, at least as far as getting things done, but yesterday was pretty nice, all in all.