I Got Hit by a Gust of Air

Which is why I have a cold

Cause and effect, fascinating isn’t it? Especially in Mexico. I have a cold, la gripa, this week, which turned my thoughts to this nose-running subject.

“Pedro, I heard you weren’t feeling too well.”

“No, maestro, tengo gripa. Saliendo de bañarme me pegó un aire.”

(No, teacher, I have a cold. After taking a shower, I got hit by cold air.”)

An abrupt change in temperature, usually hot to cold, is the single most common cause given for getting a cold. This reason is often stated using the word air which in rural areas of our state sounds more like aigre. Cold gusts of air are also blamed for muscle pain, especially back pain.

Having grown up in Montana, when I first heard this reasoning given for sickness, I would argue the fact. In Montana, abrupt changes in temperature were part of everyday life. I would go from a warm house to below freezing and back severa…