This is What I Miss… Your Reason to be Grateful

I’m about to give you something to be grateful for, that you have probably taken advantage of your entire life. I know I did.

Your sense of smell and ability to taste.

In February of this year I had one of those really bad colds, the kind that clog your head and sinus to the point that you can’t smell or taste anything. Not that unusual. We’ve probably all experienced it at one point or another. But what if, after you got better, you never regained either your ability to smell (anything), or your ability to taste (anything), what would you do?

That’s exactly what happened to me.

I have not been able to smell ANYTHING, or taste ANYTHING for eight months.

At first, I just thought it would eventually come back. So, I didn’t worry about it too much. And then I got so busy that I pushed it to the back of my to-do list, because there is always something more pressing, right?

But if I’m really honest with myself, the real reason I haven’t gone to the doctor yet (I’m actually going tomorrow morning) was because the thought of hearing I might never regain these two incredible senses, is too much to bear. The not knowing, was somehow, oddly filled with hope and optimism.

This whole time I kept thinking that one day I’d wake up and again smell my morning coffee. Savoring it the way I have, everyday since I was 16 yers old, eager to both smell and taste it’s awakening goodness.

But sadly, no go.

So, today I want you to think about all the smells and tastes you love and take for granted. What are they?

This is what I miss…

This is what I’ll never take for granted again, should I ever get these senses back.

I miss the smell of a fresh lemon.
???????I miss how basil from my garden leaves it’s scented oil on my fingers after I pick it.

I miss trying to guess what red wine “tastes like,” based on shoving my nose in the glass and swirling the dark liquid until “legs” form and run down the glass. (Was that dark cherry? Do I detect a little, smoldering bark? Or maybe it was, wet dog?)

I miss the smell of my teenage sons room. Yes, even that I miss. All those days I’d yell at him to keep his window open to prevent suffocation by farts and sweaty old socks, I’d take that back right now if I could. I’d wash his nasty football uniform with a cheerful smile on my face.

I miss the way a roast, or my Tuscan ragu fills the kitchen for hours (sometimes days) with it’s pungent aroma that somehow translates to; comfort, love, family, chilly fall evenings and the very essence of what it means to be a mother.

And ooohhhh how I miss the taste of EVERYTHING!

One of my true joys, passions and hobbies in life is amazing food! Cooking it, eating it, sampling it. Thats been one of the worst parts of this. As I cook, I rarely follow recipes. I’ve always lead by taste and smell. Now one of my silent fears is that something will look right, but won’t taste like it used to when I made it before, or worse yet, might taste awful!

Sometimes I wonder if this was the Universe’s way of helping me lose weight. “Listen bitch!” I can hear it now… “You asked me to help you shed those pounds, and it can’t be done as long as you can enjoy food. So poof! Problem solved.”

???????But alas it hasn’t changed that equation at all, so who knows.

???????This experience has taught me to never take the “small things” for granted. ???????It’s reminded me that no matter what we are going through, we will ALWAYS have sooooo much to be thankful for, and there is always someone out there who wishes they have the things you are taking for granted right now.

So, for today that person is me.

If after you read this, you can walk up to your child and burry your nose in their hair, you have something I wish I still had.

If you can walk into a kitchen and say; “OH! That smells so good!” Remember little ol’ me, can’t.

And, if you eat a meal that takes you back, or transcends ecstasy, think of me throwing you glaring daggers!

Naw, I’m happy for you. Really I am. Which is why I wanted to remind you of just how great you have it, right now. In this moment. Close your eyes and imagine a world where you couldn’t ever experience these simple life pleasures again.

Now are you grateful?