I was reading all the discussion about being worried about ear effects while flying and saying to myself, self, that's interesting, but you've never had this concern. I spoke too soon. I just got back (landed about 1.5 hours ago) from one of the bumpier trips, including the landing itself, that I've ever had, just Memphis to DC (and went to Memphis yesterday, so it was just an overnight there). And my ears were popping all the way up and all the way down, which meant I had only a little time in the middle of the trip when they weren't. I have no cold, congestion, irritated throat, etc., so there was no reason for this. So I guess I'm going shopping for earplanes to add to the travel material we've collected. And thank you all for the comments about them!
sja
(So you see what I do first? :D )