I HAVE ALWAYS RELIED ON MY SENSES, ALL SIX OF THEM. HOWEVER, I WAS SO NUMB THE FIRST YEAR AFTER THE STROKE( I HATE TO CALL "IT" MINE, MAKES IT SEEM LIKE MY FRIEND) THAT I DIDN'T, OR COULDN'T RELY ON THEM ANYMORE. THEN SOMETHING STRANGE HAPPENED, ...... THEY CAME BACK!!!! TWOFOLD( EXCEPT SIGHT) OR MAYBE IT JUST SEEMS THAT WAY SINCE I WENT WITHOUT THEM FOR A WHILE.

ANYWAY, THE LAST FEW MONTHS I HAVE BEEN BOMBARDED WITH MEMORIES AND THOUGHTS FLOODING INTO MY BRAIN BROUGHT ON BY "SENSE ASSOCIATION", TO THE POINT IT'S JUST DOWNRIGHT WEIRD.

HEARING: I HEARD A SONG THE OTHER DAY THAT SENT ME INTO A FANTASY LAND FOR A WHILE AND MADE ME THINK ABOUT A MAN I LIKE A LOT. I "ZONED OUT" FOR I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG THINKING ABOUT HIM, IT WAS PLEASANT. THAT'S THE FIRST TIME THAT HAS HAPPENED SINCE "THE STROKE.". I LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT TIME.

TOUCH: I PETTED A STRAY KITTY LAST WEEK ( AND FED HER) AND SHE FELT LIKE A KITTY I HAD AS A CHILD. MY MIND STRAYED ( PARDON THE PUN) OFF WITH MEMORIES OF "TABITHA", AND SITTING WITH HER IN MY LAP ON A SWING SET. I HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT CAT IN 30+ YEARS.

SMELL: I HUGGED A MAN WHO I DO BUSINESS WITH NOT LONG AGO IN GREETING AND HE HAD ON JOVAN COLOGNE. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT HE SAID FOR AT LEAST 10 MINUTES BECAUSE MY MIND DRIFTED OFF TO A HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART WHO WORE THAT COLOGNE. DANCING, TALKING, KISSING, JUST SMELLING HIM AGAIN, WAS SENTIMENTAL.

TASTE: A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS WATCHING ( MINDLESSLY) BRADY BUNCH RE-RUNS. I DEVELOPED AN OVERWHELMING CRAVING FOR A CHICKEN POT PIE. SO MUCH SO I WENT TO THE STORE AND BOUGHT ONE. THEN, DIVIDED IT INTO THREE PARTS AND POURED MILK ON IT. IT WAS SO COMFORTING. WHEN I TOLD MY SISTER, SHE LAUGHED AND SAID.." DON'T YOU REMEMBER, ON FRIDAY NIGHTS MOM ALWAYS FED US CHICKEN POT PIES WHEN THE BRADY BUNCH WAS STILL BEING FILMED!!!! AND... IT WAS TOO HOT SO SHE DIVIDED IT UP AND POURED MILK ON IT." I HAD FORGOTTEN THAT, BUT MY TASTE BUDS HAD'NT.

SIGHT:, NO MY VISION ISN'T AS GOOD SINCE "THE STROKE", BUT I SAW SOMETHING NOT LONG AGO THAT STIRRED MEMORIES AS WELL. I SAW A YELLOW ROSE ON A BUSH AND MEMORIES FLOODED BACK OF MY BEST FRIEND WHO WAS KILLED AT 19 YRS OLD. THOSE WERE HIS FAVORITE. THE LAST TIME I SAW A YELLOW ROSE CLOSE UP WAS AT HIS GRAVE, I AVOID THEM ON PURPOSE. BUT EVEN THOUGH IT MADE ME CRY, AT LEAST I COULD FEEL HIM AGAIN.

6TH SENSE: RECENTLY AWAKENED AGAIN. EVEN WHEN I HAVE TO SIGN ON AS INVISIBLE TO GET WORK DONE( I'M ON TOO MANY BUDDY LISTS) I CAN FEEL WHEN A CLOSE FRIEND OF MINE IS ABOUT TO CONTACT ME. WE ARE ON SUCH A WAVE LENGTH THAT , AND I DON'T THINK HE EVEN REALIZES HE DOES THIS, THAT HE WILL START CHATTING WITH ME AS IF HE CAN FEEL ME TOO. I THOUGHT THAT WAS DEAD, GUESS NOT. I WELCOME IT BACK.

I AM ESTATIC THAT MY SENSES ARE WAKING UP. I WILL NEVER TAKE THEM FOR GRANTED, EVER AGAIN.