Day 226/365 [Year 2]

March is apparently question month. To ask me a question, post a comment here: http://toddpage.livejournal.com/370916.html [comments screened]

Question 2: Which sense would be the worst one for you to lose and why?

I find it intriguing to note how much easier it would be if this question were reversed. So I'll go through backwards.

Scent: While I think scent is a nice touch to life [I especially like the smell of fire, gasoline, mowed lawn, autumn, and saw dust] I don't think it's really necessary to survival... and while I'm sure I'd miss it on occasion, I am also pretty certain I'd miss it the least of all the senses.

Taste: I love to om nom nom... and taste is fucking awesome. But... again, it's not necessary for survival... and I COULD live without it. Look how interesting textures in food would become? Or something positive like that.

The next 3 are all actually difficult. They are all important bits of self-defense and survival... without touch I could leave my hand on a burning stove... without sight I could fall, or trip, or accidentally put my hand in a tigers mouth... and without hearing I could miss the warning honk of a car or yell of a person. So lets put logic aside and just go on feelings. As these three are pretty much tied to me, they are not ordered... except that the one I pick as the worst to lose is last. [And it won out by a very little margin]

Touch: Wow. To not be able to feel the warmth of someone you care about? Or the sun on your skin? Or the comfort of a soft, well-loved blanket? To not know the texture of sandpaper, or a brick wall. To not know the sensation of falling off your bike and slamming your knee into the pavement? To not experience the fuzzy mental feelings after a cuddle session with someone you care about. This would all be incredibly painful.

Hearing: I recently did the math. And with drastic undercalculations, I figured out I listen to an average of 8 hours of music a day. Note that I said undercalculations. The actual number is probably higher. Music is also a huge inspiration to much of my work and life. Losing those chords, and melodies, and horn lines is almost unimaginable to me. Also, to lose the comfort of the reassurance in the voice of a person you care about.

Sight: The winner. Not surprising, I'm sure. Though it one by a far closer margin than any of you guessed. I can't imagine not being able to capture my world and present it via photography. My camera-filled-world would lose a piece of its meaning... photography is so much of my life and has so much meaning to me. Not to mention I wouldn't be able to gaze upon my world and take in the details and bits I observe. I can't even wager a number as to how much of my life is spent shooting and editing... but it would be a huge void if I couldn't see.

[self-portrait]