Hello, hay fever

I wake up this morning and my nose itches. I've been coughing off and on all summer, but now I'm sneezing uncontrollably too. I check the date - mid August. Aha. I remind myself that in Minnesota the ragweed bursts into cancerous bloom in mid-August instead of September, which is when I always expect it.

I check my email. There's a notice from pollen.com. Two days ago, it was just grass and nettles. Today it's ragweed. Level 9.