Have you seen the "Claritin" commercials? You know, the one where every one looks a little dull, and they ask, "Are you Claritin Clear?"

Then they strip away the dull film and every one is nice and brite???

Well, I feel like I live in a Claritin commercial. Except I can't strip away that layer.

I can deal with it well enough, I suppose. Until I have a flare. Then, instead of looking through saran-wrap- it's like mentally looking through aluminum foil.

I can *see* the objects, but I can't recognize what I'm looking for. If I open the silverware drawer to get a fork. I see all the utensils, but for the life of me...there won't be any forks in there! Of course, my 8 year old will walk right over and pick up the fork for me...and I feel pretty silly. DOH! how could I have missed it? It was there all along!

I now opt for steriods sooner during a flare than I used to, because I now realize that my *reality* during a flare isn't really *real*...which could be potentially dangerous.