Scent

I have a good nose, as they say, an acute sense of smell.  This can be a disheartening thing, especially when I can smell some deep-down rot inside the pipes beneath the garbage disposal, or the scent of cow manure in someone’s backyard down the hill, more than a block away.  Usually, I sniff for good things.  Remember Steve Martin in “Roxanne” going out to find the fire? 

It’s not just the scent of things, it’s the memories the scents bring.  The earth after a heavy rain reminds me of growing up in the country and waiting for the bus at the end of the long driveway.  The scent of ironed cotton (yes, I iron) reminds me of Mom’s “mangle”.  She used to sit in the back porch laundry and mangle pillow cases and table cloths, Dad’s dress shirts and pants.  I love the scent of sweet peas which remind me of Mom Edith and Dad Bill, my in-laws.  Mom loved sweet peas and Dad did his best to find them for their wedding.  He failed because they were married on New Year’s Eve and sweet peas just aren’t around in winter.  But give the man an A for trying. 

I love the smell of carnations.  I thought they were my grandmother’s favorite because she grew them in her garden.  I learned later that her favorite flower was primrose, so many different colors.  I love the scent of hot sand and almond orchards because they remind me of summer visits to Grandma Wulff in Livingston. 

I love the smell of Rick’s coffee, the best brewed anywhere because it’s made with tlc.  I love the scent of salt sea air and the subtle smell of mildew in an old beach house because it reminds me of my parents home in Brookings, Oregon and going up every August with the kids.  That scent reminds me of picnics on Whaleshead Beach and Humbug, drives to the Prehistoric Gardens where the kids ran wild along the pathways, twice around the mile before I made it once.  Surf and wet driftwood, decaying ferns, sea breeze.  I remember Game Park where my kids held lions and tigers and bears, oh, my – and a cougar, raccoon, ferret, petted free roaming deer and picked up peacock feathers. 

Scent.  What a blessing.  Thank You, Lord.