Did you Know?

My first stint in Washington, D.C. was as an educational tour guide. We were supposed to learn names, dates and facts about hundreds of circles, buildings, streets, statues and gravestones. As my fellow tour guides soon learned, however, I had a knack for remembering the oddities while forgetting the dates and other generally important information.

I soon dubbed "The Queen of Useless Information." For instance, I could tell you how tall the Washington Monument was (it was 555 5 1/8" tall at the time, but it reportedly sinks at a rate of 1/8" per year), but neither the year it was started (1848) or dedicated (1885).

It is a trait I've nurtured since childhood - serving me well on occasion, if only to lighten the mood. Now, even as an adult with a real job, a child and responsibilities, it seems to be one of my greatest talents - remembering random pieces of information - and yet barely able to recall the important stuff.

For instance, did you know:

• 20% of Americans have allergies to something?


• If both parents have allergies, their child has a 75% chance of having allergies


• Approximately 2% of the population in general has a peanut allergy


• Peanut allergies are the most common cause of death due to foods


• 1/3 of people with peanut allergies have tree nut allergies


• There is only ONE board-certified pediatric allergist in the entire state covered by our insurance - and she happens to be 2.5 miles from our house.


• I still remember all the words to the "bringing home a baby bumblebee" song - which Woodstock learned during our 3-hour doctor visit Wednesday.

I remembered all this, but do you think I could remember the dosing instructions the doctor gave me for Benadryl or the therapy sheet that tells whether or not to use Benadryl or the Epi Pen for Woodstock's severe peanut allergy?

Of course not.

This Thanksgiving season, I am sending the FDA huge amounts of gratitude for requiring the bold, plain English identification of allergens and potential allergen contamination.

I am also sending my mother huge amounts of gratitude for passing on her neurotic label-reading habits, well-honed by my even more neurotic self for years prior to Woodstock's arrival.

I have a lot to be thankful for this year - including the fact that we were able to discover the severity of Woodstock's allergy in a confined, medical setting.

Giving up my morning on-the-way-to-work peanut butter toast is a small price to pay.