Oh, the sweet, sweet smell!

Have you ever felt like a catastrophe is happening and there is nothing you can do about it but watch? You view the events in disbelief and hope it is just a dream?

Early mornings find me taking Kenai, a young labrador retriever, out for a run. Our rental, 1891, is located on a large lot with trees in the back. Deer frequent the area, but so does one rodent- Skunkie.

“No, Kenai! Come back here!” I yelled out as she ran toward the black animal. Even though I could barely see the stink bomb, I knew and dreaded the effect.

Not thinking, I brought her back into the home. The strong smell permeated everything.

Corey woke up and immediately asked,” What IS that smell?”

I went to work, bathing Kenai, but the smell continued to fill the rental.

I left for school, not thinking how my clothing would also experience the effect of Skunkie’s perfume. As I walked into the building, another teacher asked, “Smells like a skunk out here!” A different teacher told me to hang my coat on my van, but it was too late. The classroom smelled like it, prompting several students to plug their noses.

The teachers, after learning of the catastrophe, howled in laughter. It really was a funny moment. The assistant principal remarked, ” I wondered what that smell was in the classroom and thought it must have been a skunk.”

Corey went to school where a teacher asked, “Who smells like a skunk today?”The remark caused Corey to leave the classroom, asking to head home. Office staff, suspicious of his motives, would not allow him to leave unless a parent approved. Mitch, miles away in Indiana, informed them it was okay. He left and worked on getting rid of the smell on Kenai and the rental.

Thankfully, many others have experienced skunk/ dog interactions and shared the best remedies. The school janitor provided step by step instructions for bathing Kenai as well as the ways to get rid of the smell inside. Surprisingly, coffee grounds placed on plates around the house was the best way.

The week continued with another challenging situation– the furnace stopped working. As we sat in the frigid temperatures, I reflected on the week: a skunk encounter, a furnace not working, and Mitch’s travels to India. I think that is enough! As the journey continues, who knows what other adventures will occur?