A Day In The Life Of A Cat

There are some smells that hit me like a ton of bricks. Some in a good way, others not. The Von's in Clairemont Square always smells like my Mom's kitchen at Thanksgiving. It's hard to explain, but I notice it each time I walk in the doors over there.

Old Spice cologne. Do not wear this around me. Not only does it smell bad, but it has terrible memories attached to it.

One afternoon when I was feeling rather melancholy about something, I wrote this.

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Susannah looked across the parking lot as she unlocked her car door and saw an Asian market. The name of it rang a bell. Then it clicked. That was the market Ian had told her he shopped at. She thought about going in, but here was always the chance she'd run into him....that would be awkward. On the other hand, seeing him was what she *really* wanted. Moments later, she was walking up and down the isles looking at the unusual products. Then she came to an isle with soaps.

"What was the soap he used?" she asked to herself, trying to remember the name of it.

This is undoubtedly where he got it. Picking up a few bars, she began smelling them. Then, she noticed a familiar wrapper and picked that one up and smelled it. She closed her eyes. It was as if he were standing next to her. Minutes later, she was walking out of the store with her only purchase. A single small sack with a bar of soap in it.

***

Susannah stood at her bathroom sink and lathered her hands, then rinsed and dried them. Cupping one hand over her nose, the familiar scent took her back to the days when she'd been with Ian. That was all it took. She suddenly felt somber and a little pathetic at what she was doing....washing her hands so they would smell like him. Turning out the bathroom light, she got into bed. After laying there for a few minutes, she smelled her hand again. She wondered if he ever thought about her. Tears welled in her eyes, and she rested her hand on the pillow next to her face so the scent was right there.

"I miss you so much," she whispered.

She cried until she fell asleep.
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