Well friends, I almost killed Steffy. I have known her for about 15 years. I have always known that she is highly allergic to a lot of things. Some dogs, cats, smoke, cleaning fluids, flowers, lots of stuff. I have always had a nose that could smell out a kid in poopy diapers a mile away, so you would think I would remember those things no matter what she tells me.
Since DH and I sorta adopted our kids cats when they lived in places where cats were not allowed, she stopped coming to our house. We have had the cats for 11 years now. No problem, I just went to hers and always told her "I am not coming to clean, just to see you".
One year for my birthday she told me that she had taken her medicine and was going to come over to my house to see all of the rooms that we had redone since before the cats came. Pictures just really do not do the trick, you have to see it to believe it. So, she comes in and starts looking around. Finally, after 5 minutes, she leaves. She was sick for a week. (she admitted she had had a cold, but this almost lead to pneumonia.
Almost 4 years ago I started having problems with smells. At first I thought I was going crazy. Then I started getting migraines. It seems that for some people, they get migraines from some odors. So, Steffy and I would suffer together when shopping or going out to eat. Sneezing, coughing and just carrying on a lot. (thank goodness for protection)
Going thru the smoking section at a restaurant we would hold our breath and practically run. She would wait outside a candle shop because it just really gets to her and if I smelled something, I would just tell her not to go there.
Now since we work together, it is really hard sometimes. When the preschool has to clean several times a day, they have to use some godawful stuff that really smells. If I am aware of it, I can use some protection that I have, a tube of liquid that I can spread under my nose and smell that instead of whatever is in the air. I just have a harder time if someone would come by with some really strong smelling perfume. Patchouli is the absolute worst. I have to go home, take medicine and sleep it off. If we have flowers at the front desk, she cannot be anywhere around.
So, I ordered the Mickey & Me figurine that holds a vase of flowers and sent it to Steffy. I figured she would tell me if the flowers were too strong. She calls to tell me it is beautiful (the vase was missing) and I made sure to ask about the flowers. At that time she is ok. We go to lunch and then she drops me off back at work. Two hours later when I am getting ready to leave, there is a message on my phone that I have to come get the flowers. I called and asked can't you put them in your DD's room? Forgot she is worse with the pollen
I get there and took the flowers and now she is ok.
Boy, am I such a dork.
