In Which I Hold My Breath

I am fortunate enough to work from home most days of the week. I have a weekly meeting with my boss, though, and make the commute to the office once a week to attend this meeting in person. 

My office is in a fairly big town about an hour away from where I live. I grew up there, so it is very familiar to me, and sometimes I get a little nostalgic when I make these weekly trips. My commute this week reminded me why I am glad to live far, far away from it. 

You see, this town has a distinct smell.

I had previously thought it was difficult to describe, until I was on the phone yesterday with my wife, driving towards my office.

"Man, the city smells today," I said. 

"Yeah?" she asked. 

"Yeah, it always has this unique smell."

"Like what?"

I paused for a moment. 

"It smells like homelessness and despair..." I said, trailing off. I breathed in. The bread factory nearby must have been in full swing. "And sometimes bread."

My wife laughed. "What does homelessness, despair and bread smell like?"

"Oh you know... Like Walmart."

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What does your city/town smell like?