Live and let (me) live

I had a crappy day today. I spent 10 hours coughing and gasping for breath. I burned two hours of sick leave, probably $10 of gas, and spent nearly $30 out-of-pocket for copay and medications. That doesn't take into account what the insurance company is going pay (meaning ultimately you and I) or the lost productivity my employer suffered. Instead of taking care of a few items on my to-do list, I'm watching the clock until I can take another hit from my rescue inhaler.

I have asthma. I take every precaution in the hope of living a full life unhindered by a disease that kills 4,000-5,000 people in the United States every year. I take two medications every day, I avoid triggers whenever possible, I don't smoke, I exercise.

Today, though, all this happened because someone decided that their desire to smell pretty trumped my need to breathe.

Here's a news flash: even if you don't know me, someone in your environment has asthma: your boss, your employee, the sales clerk, the cable installer, your student. Perfume was used to cover body odor back when they did not bathe on a regular basis. I'm going to go out on a limb and presume that you bathe on a regular basis--do you really need to douse yourself in perfume?