Well, apparently I have severe allergies. I'm allergic to the New York City environment. I thought my immune system took a vacation a few months ago, but nope ... allergies.
Last night, during my typical Friday night plans, I started having this pain on the left side of my head. I felt pretty dizzy too, so of course I think it's my body telling me to go home. Then, I woke up a few hours later because of this pain and ringing in my ear. It was definitely not a hangover headache, I didn't get hit by a truck last night and adults don't usually get ear infections ... I didn't know what was wrong with me.
After sitting in bed for a few minutes, I realized I felt like I was seven years old again tugging on my ear lobe and telling my Dad how much it hurt. Great, I am one of those weird adults who gets ear infections! Since blood wasn't coming from my ear yet, I got on the train and went to a walk-in clinic. Even the nurses laughed when I said I thought I had an ear infection. I'll tell you who wasn't laughing ... the doctor. When she looked into my ear she told me she couldn't believe my eardrum hadn't ruptured. And, if that wasn't enough, she told me I had a bad sinus infection too.
That is when I received the allergy talk. As soon as I told her I never had these problems back in Wisconsin, she basically said I'm allergic to NYC. The difference in pollution, different trees, dry air, dust (and God only knows what else) in my old apartment building, etc. Oh well, I'm never leaving this place, so if that means I have to support Benadryl and the Neti Pot for the rest of my life ... so be it. I'm hoping that eventually my body will welcome this place. I want it to welcome everything but the mosquitoes. I'm hoping they recognize me as a Brooklyn resident and leave my legs alone this summer.
As much as this was another perfect opportunity for my mother to tell me I should come back to the Midwest, I'm not leaving that easily. I still have stages to dance on, people to love and writing to do.
So, give it up NYC ... I have big dreams for us.
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