George Leppla > wrote:
Tommy Joe wrote:

> > Today while walking in outer suburbia I smelled a dead animal and felt
> > suddenly hungry. *Is this normal?



> What does your intuition tell you?



My intuition tells me several things. First, that I was only
kidding. Second, that while I was only kidding I have had thoughts
before on this subject. I love talking about odor. That's because I
love odor. Even the foulest of odors are a God-send.

But what got me started on the subject of dead-animal smells was
the realization that there are plenty of things that smell worse.
When one is out for a walk and encounters the wafting odor of a dead
animal, generally the first thing they'll do is scrunch up their nose
and go, "Whew!", with great exaggeration, especially if they're with
other people. But if they're honest they will also note that their
nose is twitching with curiosity. That is what I encountered
yesterday.

I began to consider this foul odor, that it really wasn't so bad
compared to many others. I sniff-studied that odor, spending a good
half minute reeling it in and savoring it. It was nothing I'd want to
get closer to, I'll admit that - but it was nothing compared to the
odor of dumpster juice and other toxic odors that come from paper
factories and whatnot. But when people are sitting around discussing
odor (they do it now and then, believe me), often the epitome of
stench is regarded as the one belonging to something that has died.
But in truth there are many odors fouler than that. And in truth,
even the ugliest of odors is a joy when one realizes that not smelling
at all would be worse. Smelling that dead animal yesterday helped
make me count my blessings.

But I also wondered if there were maybe some kind of primal drive
behind it, like in the old days, when a tribesman not quite up to the
skills of other hunters in his tribe is forced to take what others
will not. In the real old days, like the cave man days, I wonder if
the smell of a dead thing might have signaled hunger in the brain.

Smell on that a while, George
TJ