PASSIONATE RATIONS

Here it is, Day Seven of a mysterious malady that has kept me home and robbed me of my sense of taste and smell.  Needless to say, I’ve barely eaten for the week.  I’m beginning to fear the permanent loss of two of my treasured five senses, and the resulting torturous inability to enjoy food. 

I had a friend in college who had a curious indifference to food.  She described to me how food just didn’t taste much one way or the other to her.  I found this very odd and unfathomable at the time, but this recent experience has enlightened me. 

Certainly, all five of our senses come to bear on the depth of our ability to enjoy a meal, but which two are more essential than taste and smell?

Though some would probably give up their senses of taste and smell permanently for the weight-loss benefits, I am not one of those.  It would be too painful.  A high-school friend once described the most effective form of torture as taking from someone something they love, but leaving them with the particular memory of how much they loved that thing.  Food, essential to life and good living, is everywhere.  Reminders abound.  Can such torture be survived for very long by a food-lover?

So, here’s hoping this condition is temporary.  Please savor your meals for me.

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STATUS, VEGETARIAN ADVENTURE, DAY 18:  Alas, given the state of affairs (see above), my menus of late have been less than exciting.  Thanks to my spouse, today’s has had a little extra pizzazz, though I could not fully enjoy it.  The textures were nice though.  And it’s interesting that I still can tell if something is sweet, salty, spicy, tangy, sour, but can give no descriptors as to taste.  Thus far, today’s menus has been:  1 packet instant maple oatmeal; water; 1 Pink Lady apple with crunchy peanut butter; 1 glass of Sprite; gemelli pasta with roasted red pepper pesto; ½ yam with sweet cream butter; ½ smoked apple-sage artisan vegan “sausage” from Field Roast Grain Meat Co..