I ordered some Indian take out food this week and the aroma reminded me of walking into the common house one weekend. One of the families who were waiting for their house to be built (and then dropped out after running a meeting about all the repairs needed on the common house though that’s not the reason they left – they were tired of waiting and settled into a house all ready) were spending the weekend there- maybe to run that fatal meeting.  They had a jar of ghee out and the kitchen smelled like Indian food.  It is strong and I wondered how long it would stay. 

I once stayed at a hotel in New Jersey so I could visit my brother. It was one of those places with kitchens and the hallways were strong with Indian spices. My children weren’t used to it.  I thought of a friend who said she was overwhelmed by the smells when she was in India.  Her senses were on overload.

The scent did go away. The ghee went away too.  I didn’t mind but it was just like the work place. If someone microwaves fish for lunch, we will all smell it.  Everything you do in cohousing makes waves on everybody else.  Lucky for me, I like Indian food.