The Nose Knows

The usual smells do not bother me in an acute fashion. Dust does not bother me. But if I walk near fresh paint, new carpeting, or if a building or room is tearing down walls or ripping up carpet I will respond immediately - before anyone in my group smells anything. It can even be outside walking past a building.
The event I remember most was when my sisters with our husbands went on a cruise to celebrate her completing several rounds of Chemo. I called the cruise line and asked many questions about care and upkeep of the ship. I was savvy enough to document all my conversations. I spoke with several people with several titles all the way up to supervisor in charge of upkeep. The cruise was lovely, I even checked in with the ship’s nurse, reassurances abound... until my husband and I were walking along an exterior deck and while at sea they were repainting a rail.
I felt the tightening in my chest shortly before I smelled it. My husband heard my wheezing and picked me up, ran back inside into the cabin. Of course I had my rescue inhaler on me and my nebulizer was readily available. Fortunately, the rescue inhaler followed by 2 nebulizer treatments, saved the day and I did not have to use my EpiPens!
While I was using the nebulizer, my husband called the ship’s nurse. Since we were at sea, the best they could offer was to stop repainting unless absolutely necessary, and they would let me know in advance. There were no more incidences. As I mentioned in the beginning of this letter I was "savvy enough” to document. As a footnote, whenever I take a trip, I always call in advance and have had to alter plans due to renovation.