Allergiphany

al·ler·gy
n.

1) An abnormally high sensitivity to certain substances, such as pollens, foods, or microorganisms. Common indications of allergy may include sneezing, itching, and skin rashes.

2) Informal. An adverse sentiment; antipathy: an allergy to cocktail parties.

pl. al·ler·gies

[German Allergie : Greek allos, other; see allo- + Greek ergon, action; see werg- in Indo-European Roots.]

e·piph·a·ny
n.

1) Epiphany

a) A Christian feast celebrating the manifestation of the divine nature of Jesus to the Gentiles as represented by the Magi.

b) January 6, on which this feast is traditionally observed.

2) A revelatory manifestation of a divine being.

3) epiphany

a) A sudden manifestation of the essence or meaning of something.
b) A comprehension or perception of reality by means of a sudden intuitive realization: “I experienced an epiphany, a spiritual flash that would change the way I viewed myself” (Frank Maier).

pl. e·piph·a·nies

[Middle English epiphanie, from Old French, from Late Latin epiphania, from Greek epiphaneia, manifestation, from epiphainesthai, to appear : epi-, forth; see epi- + phainein, phan-, to show; see bh-1 in Indo-European Roots.]

al·ler·giph·a·ny
n.

The comprehension or perception of what is causing one's hay fever by means of a sudden intuitive realization.

[allergy + epiphany, coined by Don Bergquist 15th June 2006]

>0<

I had something on an epiphany last night! I was chatting with a couple mates of mine down at the local and they said that I looked as if my hay fever was clearing-up. I agreed and surmised that the factor in play was the recent two days of rain. They asked if I had any idea why my allergies were so much worse here than back home. It suddenly struck me.

Originally, I started to say that, no, I had no idea. And then I changed my statement I realized that yes, I did have a clue. As a matter of fact I may just have sussed it out! Sure, my allergies are bad back home but nowhere near this bad. But then, my exposure to pollens and mould spores at home is probably pretty much lower there than here as well. Think about it!

Have you ever been over here? If you have then you probably know the answer as well!

Two Words: Air Conditioning!

At home, we are barely ever outside. (Well, I’m not.) I move from my air conditioned house to my air conditioned car. I drive to the station where I catch an air conditioned train to downtown and then enter my air conditioned office. Granted, not all that air conditioning actually cools the air sufficient for a comfort level I’d like, but every air conditioner I have ever seen does some kind of filtering of the air! The allergens in the outside air are reduced once you enter air conditioning.

By contrast, there is practically no air conditioning here in the UK. (Well, none that I have been exposed to.) I live in an unconditioned house (or hotel - if I am in the Lion Gate), ride a bicycle almost anywhere I want to go, meet with friends in the unconditioned air of the local public house, dine on patios, and shop in stores with large open windows and fans to move the air; the cooled but unconditioned air!

As a matter of fact, since I have hit upon this as a contributing factor, I have been trying to think of just when the last time I was in Air Conditioning was. Although, I do occasionally take a car service if I am going somewhere that is not on a bus line and that is a long-haul, and when I do take the bus, some of them are air conditioned, I can not say for certainty that I have been in either of these on this trip. Thinking back, even the emergency room had its doors open to the cool breezes of the outside air. I believe the examining rooms may have been air conditioned because I do remember walking through an air lock (double swinging doors with big rubber gaskets on the edges and thresholds) but I am not sure.

I believe it may have been air conditioned in the movie theatre. A friend of mine and I went to a movie a couple weeks ago. That may have been the last time I was in air conditioning!

Anyway, just thought I’d share.

All problems have a solution. I hope that wherever you are today you have an epiphany.

Don Bergquist - 15th June 2006 - Tames Ditton, Surrey, United Kingdom