While I admit that both a) I'm hypersensitive and b) i like LIGHT fragrance too occasionally, I have to comment on this afternoon's near-medical emergency which caused me to miss my planned ride home but ultimately ended with creative collaboration time.
I was walking down the hill from where I work to where i catch a commuter bus. Things were going well, and I was enjoying the view but moving right along, as I didn't have a lot of time to spare. Coming around a bend, a woman clearly older than me (though not "old" per se) scooted across the street ahead of me. I allowed her some space and caught a whiff of her fragrance. I don't know what it was, but for an allergic, it was almost instant asthma attack. I caught myself reeling backward, I couldn't breathe comfortably. I immediately slowed my pace and allowed her more distance. I could still smell her perfume a full three trees away (20-30 feet?). I sent word of this fact to a friend over the texting phone. I know it must have seemed like a complaint; indeed at first it was, but it was also a self-preservation mechanism, in case something happened and no one could figure out why. People...perfume was designed to be subtle and seductive...it's something that's supposed to just hint to another to want to get closer to smell it--not to be worn as a shield that sends repulsive olfactory rays several meters out in all directions. Perhaps I am just a big baby at times, but I find this more offensive that body odor or dung, and rank it with smoking in terms of "bad." I'll defend your right to express yourself, but please oh pretty please don't forget that breathing is not really an optional activity to remain alive in human form.
This incident did indeed cause me to miss my bus, though i wonder if he was early because I was still at the stop by the scheduled time (for which we rarely see that bus) yet no one from the route was there. boo. so sad. I again sent word to friend after another 15minute wait, as I was a bit bummed, (having waited for same bus for 45 minutes this morning and then shivered all the way to work) but decided to go write instead of complain, since i had some extra time "to myself" after I walked to the other bus stop and paid extra money for the backup plan. I'd love to send that lady a bill for my ticket and my allergy pills. I'll settle my grievance with the universe so long as we don't cross paths again in the immediate future. Thanks to that friend who smiled gently through the text messages, then offered me some more creative genius to consider.
No comments:
Post a Comment