I was never in an air-conditioned environment for any length of time until in my late 20’s. My nasal passages are now dry year-round, and my sinuses as well. I am not allergic to specific factors that I am aware of; my nose just starts running in conditions that had never been a problem in my youth.

The animals I grew up with, I have no allergic reaction to. So dogs, horses, birds and most livestock I’m A-OK with; cats and rabbits, not so good.

My kids are growing up with a wide assortment of critters. Sam used to get a localized rash where ever the dog touched him, but never any wheezing, sneezing or runny eyes, so we just let him be blotchy. It gradually went away and he does not react at all anymore.

The same theory has not worked for me and food however. I have developed an allergy to both soy and eggplant over the past few years. Go figure!

She kept our house really, really clean. We had no pets, because my parents weren’t into having them. I spent my early childhood with chronic bronchitis and developed mild to severe allergies at about age 7 to: dogs, cats, horses, cattle, feathers, dust, shrimp and chocolate, as I recall.

Horses and dogs were probably the worst. No more shetland pony rides at the grocery store (am I dating myself here?). Couldn’t go to friends’ houses to play if they had a dog.

The consequence of exposure was respiratory shutdown with wheezing, swollen eyes and, in one case after being around horses at a birthday party, swollen lips, too. That one was almost a trip to the emergency room.

For whatever reason, I finally “grew” out of it in my 40s. First cats, then dogs. Now, as long as I keep my hands out of my eyes, I’m fine. I almost cried the first time I was finally able to bring myself to kiss my collie boy (first dog) on his nose, something I never dreamed I’d be able to do.

Seriously, I am glad that my children grew up with animals (cats), plenty of dirt inside and outside of the house, and lots of playtime outside.

No allergy yet in both of my children, but maybe good fortune also played a part.

To diverge, I almost flipped a few minutes ago before writing this comment. I looked at my checkbook and my husband had written a check to donate to the wolves. NEVER, in all our many years of marriage, has he donated to animals. I only donate to animals myself, because that is all I can afford. I ask you, Dr. Becker, is he loosing his “marbles” or is he just going “soft”. I am so glad he did, though.

My own pediatrician always said every child needs to eat a pound of dirt by the time they turn two. Now granted, this was back in the dark ages, but I think she may have been on to something.

P.S. I’m starting to keep a counter of Dr Becker’s Reagan mentions, as opposed to Bruce and Willy mentions. I’ll bet Reagan’s going to win by a landslide…