We’ve all heard the old adage that opposites attract. Kenn and I are just beginning to realize just how opposite we are in one area. What area is that? My sense of smell leaves a lot to be desired while Kenn’s is excellent. This disparity leads to a lot of “Do you smell something?” conversations that leave me feeling like I’m being forced to take a pop quiz that I know I’m going to fail.

A few months ago, I walked into the kitchen to be greeted with the dreaded question. “Do you smell something?” In response, my brain went into overdrive: Obviously there’s something I’m supposed to smell, but I don’t, so I’m going to fail the quiz. Ugh. Why do we have to do this? Hedging my bets I replied, “Maybe? But not really. Give me a hint. What am I supposed to be smelling?” “Oh, one of the eyes on the stove was on and it melted the plastic container that was on the stove top.” 🙄 Okay then. This incident lead to several responses: 1) Removing the melted plastic, which was a whole process on its own. 2) I orderedthese stove knob locks so that we don’t have any more instances of eyes getting turned on accidentally, and 3) We had a discussion about if Kenn can please just tell me what an issue is without first quizzing me on my sense of smell.

Another incident (example?) occurred last month on our drive to South Carolina. We were cruising down a back road when Kenn wrinkled his nose and made a noise. Of course I asked what that was all about. Kenn looked at me and said, “Skunk. Don’t you smell it?” My response is apparently going down in family history. I said, “What do you think? Do I ever smell whatever it is you’re asking me if I smell? No. So, no. I don’t smell the skunk.” Kenn laughed so hard and for so long, I thought he was going to have to pull over; the man had tears running down his face. Every time he would get himself under control, he’d mutter “What do you think?” and go back off into gales of laughter. He finally managed to gasp, “There was just so much contempt in that one phrase.” Even now, a month later, Kenn still laughs about it. And, any time the topic of a scent/smell comes up, I now have a standard answer: “What do you think?”

In what ways are you and your partner opposites?