BREATHLESS

My sinuses are in raging rebellion. At the office this morning, I started getting whiffs of something in the air. At first, I thought it was the lingering odor of cheap cologne left behind by some unknown overnight employee. Then it seemed to become somewhat more noticeable and reminiscent of my long gone long-haired days of incense. Soon it became overpowering. I quickly ruled out the obvious: that someone was interviewing a hooker on the rock station down the hall; and the obtuse: that the janitorial staff had shown up for the once a year urinal cake renewal.

I put my investigative nose on the case, following it down the hall. I tracked the sickening bouquet to the tiny corner office of our equally tiny Operations Director for the "Soft Rock" station. Apparently he has become a sudden convert to aroma therapy. I initially was going to confront him about the steroidal vanilla scent emanating in waves from candles on his desk, but it was too overpowering. My head was pounding and my throat was tightening as my reddening eyes filled with tears. I ran from the building gasping in desperation for the familiar funk of my moldy car seats (if all the windows of my car rolled up completely I would have no memory of Hurricane Claudette).

I'm sure someone else at the office will raise a stink about "the candleman"...if the O.D. doesn't O-D on his own fumes first.
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It was the smell of money that sank Dan Morales. I have mentioned here before that Morales was the first San Antonio politician with whom I developed a relationship some 20 years ago. He became a shining star in the state Democratic party but now his star has burned out. He copped a plea today to tax evasion and mail fraud charges.

He will go to prison soon, corrupted by the flagrant fragrance of vast sums of money.

My nostrils are being assailed by acrid arrogance.

I am craving fresh air.

Psalm 115: 4-6
But their idols are silver and gold, made by the hands of men.
They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear, noses, but they cannot smell