Peanut and the Scariest Drive Home
Okay, many of you know I'm allergic to cats. I'm well aware that I'm very allergic to cats. I'm NEVER touching another cat ever again!

Randy has the sweetest, most adorable and affectionate cat in the world - Peanut. She lives outside and is always in Randy's driveway to meet me - but I never let her in the house for fear that I'll have to touch her to get her back out. Well, I managed to keep her out last night, but Randy let her in.

The story goes back to January when Randy and I started dating. I pet her for less than a minute and before I knew it, my eyes were itchy and watering and my nose was running. When I woke the next morning, my face was swollen. We were 90% sure it was probably the cat, but I'd never had that kind of reaction before. Never. We thought that maybe she had gotten into something outside and it was on her fur and that's what I was reacting to.

Well, when we got to Randy's last night, with Peanut in the house, Randy went to the bathroom. I sat, with my hands in my pockets, on the sofa. Well, Peanut wouldn't let that happen. She jumped up on the couch and began rubbing her cute little head all over my arm. I gave in. I figured I'd just wash my hands without touching my face and I'd be fine. I was WRONG!!!

Within 15 minutes, my eyes were itching, and red, and then swollen. My eyeballs swell up! Yes, my eyeballs. I took my contacts out because it hurt to keep them open. Well, then I fell asleep. I took some Claritin, but it wasn't strong enough. At 10:15 I gave up and decided I'd have to crash at Randy's because I couldn't get my lenses in my eyes and therefore see to drive home. So, I took a couple of Benadryl hoping it would kick the swelling. I took some on Sunday night but it knocked me on my butt. But then I realized all of the lights were on in my house and I had to take the trash out, so I decided to try to go home. I figured I had a small window to get home before the drugs kicked in. All I needed was to be drowsy on top of swollen!

I couldn't see a darn thing. I couldn't begin to read ANY road signs. If I was directly on one of those big, green signs that go across the road, I could just about make out the words. Thank goodness I know the drive home. However, if cars were turning in front of me or entering the roadway next to me, I jumped and swerved. Then came the construction on the bridge. I knew lanes would be closed, but I couldn't read the signs to see which ones were actually closed! So, I guessed and tried to follow the brake lights and was right. Oh, and then there was a disabled truck on the bridge - that's a bad thing when only one lane is open!!! I have no idea what I would have done if I'd been pulled over. I guess I would have known if a Police car was behind me. I tried to do the speed limit, but I could barely make out the numbers on my speedometer. I'm home and I'm safe. The trash was taken out and I even made it to Bible Study this morning. But my eyes still aren't recovered. They hurt so much.

What have I learned from this? Well, that's obvious. There are two things: never touch a cat and I'll take my glasses with me from now on!