Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Senseless

 
This time it is meant quite literally. I've had a stupid head cold for the better part of a week and seem to have blown away my sense of smell. I can't smell a thing. I have experienced this before and I know it will return. Meanwhile I amuse myself reflecting on how my perceptions change without my sniffer functioning. 

I forget how much we rely on the nose working in the background to guide us in the everyday. I can usually tell when dinner is ready or coffee is brewed by the smell. I have to be aware of lighting a candle as I won't have the smokey, waxy smell to remind me to blow it out. Bagels toasting for too long are not noticed and rescued. Is my deodorant working? How bad is my breath? I have no idea, except if people start backing away.

It does have it's advantages. Garbage duty? Bring it on!  Pick me to chop onions or walk through the perfume department without a care in the world.  Hmmm, small comfort really.  I'd rather have the smell most of the time.

Taste has changed too. Aside from the tongue basic senses (sweet, salty, bitter and sour for your science class review), everything tastes much the same. I compliment meals by remarking on the amazing texture. Fine wine subtleties are lost on me so pass the Baby Duck.  No, please don't.  I do have to draw the line somewhere!

I'll be glad to have the sense back to normal.  It's like a dimension in my experiences is missing.  Sometimes we have to lose what we take for granted to recognize how important it is to us.  Perhaps I will splurge on the lotion tissues for the noble nose to show my appreciation.