Summers in Oregon are the most beautiful anywhere. The rain forest effect of colorful bloom, clean air and openness is unparalleled. I live for the spring and summers in Coquille.

But as with all earthly pleasures there is a price. The price comes due in the form of the wet, cold winters. It's not so much the weather that gets me down. My main complaint is the respiratory curse that comes to visit the lungs on the cold wet air.

The flu. For the older citizens (can I say seniors) like myself the effects of this ailment come and go and come and go and come and go. My head is so stuffy that my hearing that suffers from sixty years of overwork has problems with the simplest phrases. I was stopped on Highway 42 last weekend and the nice policeman asked m, "Do you know how fast you were going?" I replied with a quizzical, "Does my mother do any sewing?" and wondered why he would want to know that.

I asked him to "speak slowly and articulate" and he thought I was being a wise guy. My runny nose that requires copious amounts of Kleenex can get me into trouble. When the Kleenex is used up I start on the bathroom tissue then the paper towels. My wife inevitably has to make a McKay's run in the rain to restock. She loves me but I know she quietly abides while being driven nuts taking care of me. She sits and tries to watch television or read while I wheeze like an ancient pump organ. Raspy wind in, raspy wind out. Sometimes I even get a noise like a musical note. How entertaining for her.

For now I will follow my mother's time tested cold remedy. One third cup each of honey, lemon juice and Jack Daniel's. Then heat it, drink it, sleep and hope for an early spring.