One day in the winter of 2012, I had to go to town to sign some papers at the bank. We drove in from our rental house outside of town. In northern climates, the cold of winter tends to hold pollution closer to the ground (because of something called temperature inversion), so towns and cities are often worse with car exhaust and propane combustion in the winter. On that particular day, I was so sensitive to the pollution that a few short minutes after arriving into town, I began to feel worse. Ugh. Town air.
We got to the bank, and hubby Steve went in and explained that going into the building would make me sicker (carpet, perfumes, etc. being even worse than that town’s air).
A notary public graciously offered to come outside and witness my signing the papers. Steve thanked her for coming out, and she said, “Oh, I can use the fresh air!”
I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry (so I did neither). What a crazy thing—I’m standing there gagging on exhaust and she is happy for the fresh air!
But yet she was right—“town air” IS “fresh air” compared to “bank air.” In fact, that town’s air is probably better than the vast majority of towns in America. Even so, it made me sicker!
That’s extremely severe Multiple Chemical Sensitivity for you.
Thanks for reading, to know a little more about what I and many, many others like me face!
Christa Upton Black Hills Picture Books PO Box 293 Custer, SD 57730
