Saturday, June 09, 2007

Sunday Scribblings - "Spicy"

I love spicy foods, unless they are so hot I can't taste any of the food flavors. Tabasco or Louisiana hot sauce would go in everything I ate and brought a little zing into every dish. Dave not liking alot of spice in his food slowly phased out the zing in the cooking. I will sneak it in sauces and soups he has made, if he is not looking, in minuscule amounts. I eventually lost interest in the taste of most foods as my allergies slowly damaged my sinus's. What I thought were 8 months of winter allergies turned out to be a viral infection, left untreated.

It is being treated now, but my taste buds will only acknowledge strong flavors and my smell is mostly gone. My taste and smell may come back in time but the doctor is talking surgery and I am not. When I got used to losing abilities with my ALS, the loss of my smell and taste just did not bother me so much. I miss my husband's smell and the taste of his kisses but I don't miss my dog's breath or other unpleasant odors. Eating too much is not an issue anymore but it is amazing how much your memory of certain foods and textures can fool you into tasting. My other senses were kicked up a notch to meet the challenge.

Strong flavors (spicy) I can taste and if they are hot enough to make my nose run, I can catch the Jasmine hanging in the air from outside. I am hopeful I will get my taste and smell back, eventually. It's been over a year, but now I will eat almost anything Dave puts in front of me and I can say no thank you to popcorn and sweets. Not to mention I've become a cheap date because it seems silly to pay for an expensive meal if you can't even taste it.

Dave and I don't eat lunch very often but instead we now have become addicted to chips and salsa breaks. It's been a few months and now a nice routine. I can't dip a chip on my own, so it has become an intimate, spicy nooner for us. He buys "Scoops" a tortilla chip shaped like a bowl and he pops every other one in my mouth. I sit awaiting my turn like a baby bird as we chat about our day. He even likes the spicy version of salsa now. So I'm thinking this temporary sinus condition isn't all that bad if it has brought a little extra spice into our lives. :)

Photo from stockxpert

24 comments:

paris parfait said...

Your daily Salsa breaks sound fun! Very sweet "spicy" story. After my sinus surgery, it took a while for my sense of smell to return.

P.S. Adorable new photos of you and TK in your sidebar! :) xo

Julie said...

I hope your senses of smell and taste gradually return, although you have found some positive things about losing them.

I love your little snack breaks--sharing food can be so much fun, especially if Dave is feeding it to you! I tend to like my food a bit spicier than my husband does also, so keeping that bottle of Tabasco (I love the chipotle style) handy is a good thing.

I can see that retirement is going to give the two of you plenty of time for spicing things up ;-)

The Happy Hutter said...

I love the way you turn bad into good! Each time I read your blog it leaves me with a 'warm' feeling. Thank you for coming into my life - you are a special person.

Clockworkchris said...

I think the happy hutter said it all. You really take everything that happens in life that most might think is the end of the world and turn it around. What a great love you share to have someone feed you chips and salsa-I do that with my wife for fun sometimes.

Lippy said...

I don't know if it would be appropriate to call this entry "sweet", but it sure left me thinking that word. Also, would it be ok if I went to the kitchen now (11:45 PM) and had a few "Scoops" and salsa in your honor, sorta like a toast?

I enjoyed this read.

Anonymous said...

I like your chips and salsa breaks. Fun and spicy. Inspirational, too -- spice (not just food spice) is important to enjoying life. Good remider. Thanks, Tammy! xoxo :)

Anonymous said...

And I have to say (though I've said this before), your fighting spirit and ability to turn around the negative and continually look on the bright side is always inspiring.

gautami tripathy said...

What I really love is your positive outlook. Thats the spice in your life!

Hugs!

Kamsin said...

Glad you have found something positive in losing your sense of taste! I love all spicy food, my mouth is watering for some salsa right now reading your post!

lisrobbe said...

Thanks for the welcome back! Much appreciated. This was a great post. Yummy salsa breaks! Your positive outlook even with losing your sense of taste is inspirational.

Shelby said...

oh I simply love chips n salsa!

Lucy said...

you have brought spice into your ives not just with those cute afternoon salsa breaks, but with you positive, sunny out look on life. Hope your taste and smell returns and you stay well. thanks for
visiting me today :)

Rob Kistner said...

Tammy -

We all need spice in our lives. Dave is fortunate that you add some to his.

Anonymous said...

Thanks so much for visiting.
I love Scoops with guacamole and or salsa. Mixing some sourcream into your salsa makes it very scoopable.
Feel well take care.
Sending good vibes your way,
Frances

Tinker said...

Spicy AND sweet! The salsa breaks sound like a romantic afternoon delight!
xo

Deb R said...

Mmmmm...chips and salsa are one of my favorite-ever snacks, so I love the story of your salsa breaks. That sounds lovely!!

I hope your sense of smell and taste comes back.

Anonymous said...

I love chips and salsa, it is by far my favorite snack food. Ask dad to make you some salsa, he makes some pretty good stuff. It probably won't be as spicy as you'd like, so throw a jalepeno in the mixture.
I think I'm hungry now!

Pam said...

I like the sound of your salsa breaks, turning something difficult into love and spice.

Jana B said...

OMW THAT IS SO CUTE!!!!!

hehe you could always feed him desert...

Anyway, i want a love like that... I didn't realize how much I'd missed James these past few weeks until I saw him Wednesday, plopped down on the couch beside him, slid into his arms... *happy sigh*

tania said...

Okay, we should start a "salsa nooner" movement - it sounds so good!

Thanks for stopping by my blog, and letting me into yours.

And you'll have to pardon the Highlander quote (I'm a geek) but it seems to apply:
Live, grow stronger, fight another day.

rel said...

Tammy,
Even with a diminished sense of smell and taste, you still manage to incorporate spice in your daily life. If you're not one of a kind you're at the top of the list!
rel

Rachel said...

You two live such an intimate life it blows my mind. Lots of love to you honey
x

daisies said...

you are so spicy and sweet ~ what a love you two share :) xox

Anonymous said...

Oh tammy-that is so romantic-it is spicy to even think about!

I am glad you are getting the sinus infection taken care of -that you captured the hummingbirds finally and that you have learned and write such beautiful haiku.

Love and kisses sweetheart.
Colorsonmymind