I know that New Orleans has, shall we say, a certain smell. When I first moved here, it was unmistakable but as the months have worn on the pungent smell has fallen into the background of day-to-day living in the city. Sure, there is the occasional whiff of urine or the passing sniff of rotting garbage but overall I do not smell it anymore.

I have spent this past week in Florida visiting my family and it wasn’t until then I noticed how much I miss actually using my sense of smell for good. While walking around downtown in Florida I all of a sudden noticed the smell of the sea and a generally inoffensive odor of air. True, clean, deep breathable air!

The fact that for the past few months I have gradually been blocking out the nasty dank air that surrounds us here in New Orleans had finally come to light. I suppose this is a case of not knowing what you’ve got till it’s gone but from now on, I vow to never again take the air I breathe for granted.

Yes, it all keeps me alive the same but just because my heart is still beating doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be better off with a breath of fresh air a little more often.

Related posts:

1. Ah, that familiar stench
2. No, it’s not the dog
3. the water
4. Smoking
5. another parade