Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Okay, for months now, I've kept a photo in my lap-top. It's of a harmless looking bottle of a certain spray nasal decongestant, one an un-named co-worker had with him. For months, if not years now, we've been teasing him about his addiction to the sinus clearing substance. Just last week, I deleted the photo, thinking it was ratting out a fellow employee.
But just a few minutes ago, he began telling me about new signs that an intervention might be needed.
He says another co-worker found a bottle in a news-truck and gave it back to him this morning. This started a round of jokes about hiding spare bottles in cup-boards, drawers, etc. just in case he needed a "hit". With that, he reached into his desk drawers and produced six bottles (if you look closely, you'll see them in the photo.) He admitted he might have more elsewhere.
As we were joking about it, Len Randolph passed by to look out the window at the weather. He noticed the bottles and the two huge bottles of air fresheners on his desk, and just laughed.
I simply couldn't resist blogging about it.
You may think we're jaded to tease him so, but it isn't true. I too, many years ago, was an addict. Even now -- well, at least when I have a bad cold -- I get the urge to "light up". I have to admit I've stumbled some times, but it's never been as good as the first time. It literally took me about two very miserable weeks before my sinuses began to clear up on thier own.
Seriously, for people who have been hooked on the stuff, it's hard to get away from. There's nothing more frustrating than not being able to breathe freely, especially when clear sinuses are just a couple of nasal sprays away. I don't know the science behind it all, but my wo-worker says his doctor told him some people stay on the stuff for decades. He told him as far as he knew, there weren't any long-term effects.
Still, my anonymous colleague, whose name rhymes with "Span-drew", I beg of you to quit for your own good. Think of the time you'll save when you don't have to go stand outside of the building with the smokers. Think of the people you'll no longer expose to your second-hand mists. Think of the money you'll save. Thank goodness there's not an extra tax on the stuff, not yet anyway.
