AACHOO!

Achoo! AAchoo!! AAACHOOO!!! And, the quieter, “Sntxxx”

How many more ways are there to describe the sounds of a sneeze that I have never heard? There must be hundreds, if not thousands – at least!

Doesn’t matter, though, does it? When ya gotta sneeze, ya gotta sneeze!

When that little sensation tickles the inside of your nose, no matter how you describe it, you will sneeze!

If you have a cold or an allergy, you will sneeze.

Some people can sneeze once, while others sneeze six or more times before their noses feel satisfied. My mom was always in the latter category, and I have found that the proverbial apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I feel that undeniable tickle and grab for a tissue. Then I wait. Once second. Two seconds. Maybe three. Then it starts!

My husband reacts immediately: “Bless you!” I sneeze again. “Bless you,” he repeats. Then he hears a rapid fire of: “Achoo! ACHOO! AAACHOO!” He laughs and will say, “I’ll just wait until you’re done.” Sometimes, I’ll sneeze three or four more times before I’m done.

For me, whether it’s a cold or an allergy, I sneeze the same multiple times. Makes no difference to my nose.

For the record, putting allergy meds aside, I, like millions of others, am allergic to pollen, certain trees, flowers, and dust – and probably stuff for which I have not yet been tested. However, for the time being, I think those are enough.

Sneezes also vary in the degree of intensity. A small, quiet type of sneeze is often attributed to the female sex while the much louder, robust sneeze is something heard by the male species.

Women often try to stifle a sneeze as to not draw attention to themselves. However, all too often, that is impossible. Men, on the other hand more often find humor in the sneeze, its intensity, and its nature to constantly repeat itself. Take my sixteen-year-old grandson, for instance. He thinks sneezing is hilarious. That is, until he looks at his brother’s face with the red blotches and red, swollen, and watery eyes during an allergy attack. You’ll hear, “oops, Frank, sorry for laughing”.

Early one Saturday, Robert brought home a friend who had gotten a new puppy and wanted to show it to his parents. My son explained his older boy’s allergies and asked Robert’s friend to take the pup outside in the backyard. The damage was already done. Frank had not yet taken his allergy meds and began sneezing. He retreated to his room until he felt better.

Mom was the lucky one in the family. Her only allergy was to shellfish. Even with that, she didn’t sneeze; her skin produced a bright red, itchy rash. Yet, despite that fact, she would often get that annoying tickle in her nose and the sneezing would begin – often for no reason, and not just once. I’ve never known mom to sneeze less than five times in a row.

My dad, on the other hand, sneezed as soon as spring arrived, and nature began to bloom. My brother, sister and I take after dad in the allergy part of our hereditary. My sons take after me. Each of my boys has two children and one of each shares the same bloomin’ allergies.

We’re all on allergy medication to control our sneezing. While my sons and grandchildren are always conscientious of what makes them sneeze and will take the necessary precautions (medication and sometimes, if possible, avoidance), I, on the other hand, am now in my seventies am somewhat relaxed about it all. I love to walk in the woods with my camera to see what great pictures I can capture. Yes, those times, I will take my allergy meds beforehand. I have learned that at my age, I need to be much more careful about sneezing. Just ask any women in my age bracket and she knows what I mean. When I sneeze, well, let’s just say, it can be very embarrassing.

While I love being outdoors on those pleasant spring or summer days, I’m always careful to use my allergy nasal spray and yes, I also take it with me – just in case. After all, living here in Florida, everything is in bloom almost 365 days a year.

That’s a lot of sneezing!!