It’s a bad year to be prone to sinus infections.

Actually, it’s never fun to be a sinus sufferer, but this year is even worse.

I got hit last year, prepandemic, by a wicked case of the flu that morphed into pneumonia which still has me wheezing through the day.

About five years ago, I had surgery on my sinuses, and it was the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. I’ve literally been sick since then. I used to have a stuffed up nose and would get sick a time or two during the winter. Since I got carved up, I’m miserable from the onset of fall until sometime in May or June when my sinus infections dissipate just in time for me to enjoy being allergic to plants and flowers.

For the better part of this year, I’ve exhibited some of the symptoms of COVID-19, though just about everything is a symptom now. I just about permanently have the mainstream ones: the sneezing and the wheezing. To my knowledge, I haven’t been contact-traced to have been around the virus, and my sense of taste and smell are the only thing that seems to work well for me. My wife was cooking cauliflower or some other stinky vegetable the other day, and before I realized that I made a lap around the house to look for where the dog had an accident.

The one good thing about this first sinus infection of the season: I can cross the flu shot as the cause of it off the list. Every year, I get the flu shot and I get sick, and I cursed the shot. This year, I haven’t had a chance to get the flu shot, but my sinus infection came anyway.

I will try to lie low as much as possible until medication can get this thing at bay. Even wearing my mask when I need to in public, nobody needs me to be coughing and sneezing around them.

I think I’ve tried every home remedy there is out there. My wife doles out a handful of vitamins for this and oils for that every day. They don’t work, except after I take them, it tastes like I had pizza for breakfast. Wait, is that a symptom?

I’ve honestly suffered my entire life with bad sinuses. I know it’s not the most serious ailment a person can have. There’s no telethons for people who sneeze too much. I’m not asking for sympathy, just don’t call the police on me if I’m coughing in public.

I’m going to semi-quarantine as much as my busy schedule allows me to. If you need me, I’ll see you in the spring.