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An Interview With The Guy Who Counts The Pollen For The News
Q: What got you into this line of work?
A: Growing up, I had really bad allergies. My mom always tuned into the local news to see the pollen count before I went to school. So I used to think, like, they probably use a pollen counting machine or something to get the count. When I found out it was just a guy with a notepad going out every morning I thought, “I can do this.” My guidance counselor said I should be a meteorologist, but I’m not interested in meteors. I could count meteors in my sleep. They’re huge.
Q: How many pollens have you counted today?
A: About 125. Pollens are extremely small, and they can fly from one flower to the next before you know it. Sometimes I worry that I’ve counted the same pollen twice, but that is a common thing in our industry. I usually can remember the ones I’ve already seen.
Q: What’s the most pollens you’ve ever seen? Where?
A: Two thousand pollens is my record. That was at the beach, which surprises people. Pollens naturally sprout from flowers. Everyone knows that. But pollens also come from bees — the little fluffy jackets bees wear —…
