She said "You stink." I said "Really, I hadn't noticed." That was last night. I hadn't even been out riding, just watching the races at The Driveway. Truthfully, I've known for awhile that my sense of smell had joined the other senses in their lack of acuity. Deaf in one ear, hearing aid for the other; cataract surgery for the eyes. Modern medicine is helping cope with age-related situations. Don't know of anything for the nose however.
Back when I was aware of the stench I brought with me after riding (especially next to the freeway), I'd declare that it was actually the bike clothes picking up the engine exhausts that made the most odor. There was some truth to that. Dr. George Sheehan (running guru) once said that old people's sweat didn't stink and ran a one-man study (himself) to prove it. After a few days he modified his findings.
I'm pretty sure that on days I don't exercise I can still be socially acceptable the next day. But I have to rely on someone else to verify that. My nose works quite well in terms of breathing, it's only smelling that is defective. The lilacs are blooming but it takes a concerted effort and getting real close for me to enjoy them. Brewing coffee would once trigger salivary glands, now I just know it's done ten minutes later.
Ah well, another adjustment in the aging process.
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