I always marvel at the power of my sense of smell to stir up memories from the past. One spell-binding whiff transports me back to a time, a place, the company of someone long-lost from my daily life...here are a few that continue to amaze me and to capture me with their nostalgia-inducing strength.
THE SMELL THE MEMORY
garden-picked roses.... holiday breakfasts on my grandmother and grandfather's back patio
and coffee cans filled with roses from my grandfather's garden
warm pine needles.... afternoons exploring at Devil's Head
Cutter's bug repellent.... lazy days fly fishing
Dove soap.... long, hot showers
3M Spray 77.... all-nighters in college and then in consulting
fresh-cut grass.... Saturday afternoons at home with my Dad mowing the lawn
barbecue sauce.... Gator McGoon's and McArthur Park
Zebra Stripe Gum.... Middle School camping trips
damp sleeping bag.... camping and kayaking in the San Juan Islands
jasmine.... late evenings walking to my car leaving work
wet river stones.... weekend hiking and camping trips in Oregon, riverside bathing
onions and parsley.... Mom's spaghetti sauce, Thanksgiving in Palo Alto
eucalyptus.... lacrosse practice freshman year in college
stale beer.... The Taxi house on a Sunday morning
pine sol, saltwater and sand.... The SeaLodge elevator on the first day of check in
frying oil.... snack bar at Cherry Hills on a sunny summer day
Angel's Trumpet.... Carmel and Botanical Building in Balboa Park
Anise.... Cliff walk in August
Wine and French Fries.... Cafe Chloe
Espresso Gelato.... Looking out over Little Italy at sunset
Homemade Guacamole.... a summer spent eating salty avocados and kissing
Warm pine bark.... soft, cuddly Linus
sweat, cement, metal, sand.... SEAL beach and gym
rain on hot asphalt.... sudden summer thunderstorms in Colorado
whipped creamed and chocolate sauce.... Farrell's birthday parties
refried beans.... Casa Bonita waterfalls and fire jugglers
hard candy and Laffy taffy.... Rainbow collectibles in Keystone
cold ice, metal and sound of skates.... frozen nose hairs ice skating on the lake and high school hockey games
These sensations are sometimes such a rush - a rowdy collage of scents, sights, sounds. I find them difficult to explain or describe. Perhaps I'll try to paint them.
Just curious....What do you remember?
About The Girl
- NON SEQUITURS UNITE
- California, United States
- Not-so-silent observations that splinter my conversations. Harnessing the steady flow of random thoughts and musings that continuously interrupt my daily conversations. Paired here with my artwork and photographs from recent adventures. Non sequitur (pronounced \ˈnän-ˈse-kwə-tər\)- a response which, due to its apparent lack of meaning relative to its context, seems absurd to the point of being humorous or confusing.
I love the smell of what I call "canyon bushes": sage, mustard, sometimes pine, and other chapparel. It reminds me of walking home from school.
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