My brother (allergic to peanuts in the "if he eats a peanut he will go into anaphylactic shock and die" sense) grew up during the first wave of peanut allergy awareness. I remember the transition from my mother having to fight with airlines for a peanut-free flight, to all airlines switching to pretzels, and then airlines flailing helplessly because the low-carb craze meant people wouldn't eat the pretzels either.

I was on a flight recently where I got honey roasted peanuts. I nearly died from happiness. But then I made sure to ask my seatmates whether or not they were allergic at all.

I respect severe allergies but my mother in law used to give me a list as long as your arm for things my sister in law was "allergic" to. The child had never even seen an allergist. I did some eyerolling.

Awww Ted.

That was exactly my response. Bless his heart. Regardless of what I have thought over the years about choices he made, it can said that his dedication to the betterment of the country was a constant.

Not long ago, I had a surprisingly tearful, deeply meaningful talk with a good friend and fellow DC resident about the Marion Barry documentary. I haven't seen it and am unlikely to, but it did spark a really interesting exploration of what happens to people who really want to make a difference and, somehow achieve a position of power, from which to do so.

Paradox is the only word that seems to apply.

Perkins, so you didn't actually watch the two part season finale of CM?

Nope. I did however make people tell me what happened, after editing for pigs

Have they rerun the finale yet? Maybe I can watch the last 15 minutes or so.

But then I made sure to ask my seatmates whether or not they were allergic at all.

I had no idea how dangerous the peanut allergy was until I had lunch at the State Department cafeteria with a friend. He could not walk into the quarter of the very large room where the Asian food section was located. Just touching a package could send him to the hospital.

I thank all that is holy that I'm only 'allergic' to Kodak commercials. Strawberries and bee stings used to make me sick, but I've outgrown both.

But then I made sure to ask my seatmates whether or not they were allergic at all.

I think most nut-allergic people will still notify the airline and request a nut-free flight, so you were probably okay. My brother notifies the airline and then takes a Benedryl anyway just in case. (If it's just peanut dust in the recycled air, he'll get a bad case of hives, but he won't stop breathing. And he always has his epipen with him.)

We're having some autism related drama in my extended family right now, though from a slightly unusual perspective. My sister-in-law's* mother came over to the US last fall as a nanny for a Russian family living in Philadelphia. Only to find that both kids are severely, as in barely functional, autistic.

It's a really nightmarish situation, and nobody sees much of a way out - if she walks away she has no way to get back home, and her visa status gets hinky, which could potentially jeopardize future visas. And she doesn't have anywhere to live or another job lined up back in Moscow. Hell, she can't legally live in Moscow, though that's not a new thing. And finding a position on the fly there or in their small town when she's just walked away from a post? Ugh. It's really fucked up.

*My sister-in-law's* [They're not actually married, but might as well be. Except I guess for INS purposes.[

a nut-free flight

I was trying to come up with a joke about never having been on one of these, regardless of the food served. Just couldn't find it though!

That's terrible, Brenda. Who wouldn't prepare someone to take care of their kids if they have needs like that? Ridic.

There's a reason why people go overseas for nannies with very few options, and it's not just the language.

ETA: obviously, not everyone who has or prefers a foreign nanny falls into this. But these people clearly wanted someone they could dump full responsibility for their kids on who wouldn't be able walk away. She speaks no english. She has no resources. And she (and by extension my SIL) are terrified of rocking the boat for fear of fucking up their ability to come back to this country. It's just sickening.

I think most nut-allergic people will still notify the airline and request a nut-free flight, so you were probably okay. My brother notifies the airline and then takes a Benedryl anyway just in case. (If it's just peanut dust in the recycled air, he'll get a bad case of hives, but he won't stop breathing. And he always has his epipen with him.)

I confess that I have brought my own peanuts onto airplanes from outside. Would other passengers be notified if it was supposed to be a nut-free flight?