It’s that time of year again in Mississippi, when we can count on two things showing up right on schedule: storms and pollen. And lately, we’ve had no shortage of either.
For the past several weeks, the weather has followed a familiar pattern. The sun comes out just long enough to remind us what a nice day could feel like — and then by the weekend, here come the storms. Thunder, wind, tornado watches and warnings, weekend after weekend. It’s like clockwork, and not in a good way.
In between the storms, the pollen rolls in like it’s trying to make up for lost time. I’ve swept off my porch at least three times a week. At this point, I’m starting to wonder if I’m just wasting my time. As soon as I clean it, it’s back. The cars are yellow, the porch is yellow, and my allergies are in full bloom.
It’s a season we know too well around here. One day everything’s green, the next day it’s coated in pollen, and before you can catch your breath, the sky goes gray and the radar lights up again.
We can’t control the weather, and we definitely can’t control the pollen. But I’m starting to think spring in Mississippi is less about flowers blooming and more about sneezing, sweeping, and watching the skies.
I’d just like one weekend where I’m not either bracing for a storm or battling a layer of pollen on everything I own. Is that too much to ask?
Timothy Holdiness is the publisher and editor of The Newton County Appeal.
