Eight days since its first and most persistent symptom, a dry cough that comes from the middle of my chest, the flu is still with me. Well, the worst symptoms are gone by now, and I am up and about at long last, but some of them are far from gone. Actually, they are becoming rather entrenched. Most important, my senses of taste and smell are kind of gone. I cannot taste or smell much of what I eat. Even more important, I cannot taste or smell much of what I drink, either. Which is truly annoying when it comes to good wine. To my greatest regret, though, I cannot taste or smell much of what I smoke. When it comes to fine cigars, this is annoying to the point of distress. Will the flu ever leave me? Or will I be forced to abandon so many things I consider essential to a life worth living?