Disclaimer: This is another nostalgic post, but I had the urge to write it. And I'm a very nostalgic person in case you didn't already know.
Less than a month ago, I came across a smell that I hadn't encountered in awhile and it instantly took me down memory lane. The scent my nose procured was that of a hot blade of slicing through fresh cut lumber...sawdust. Instantly I recalled being a lad not even six, in my grandfather's workshop, watching with full attention as he turned blocks of wood into beautiful birds and toy cars. The building is red, like a mini barn, with a doorway I now have to duck my head to get through. There are blocks of wood everywhere, sawdust is scattered across the concrete floor, and unfinished creations are shelved all over. My gaze is fixed as my grandfather cuts a duck from its wooden prison. Once freed, the lines need burned and the bird needs color. We leave the shop and head inside the house to where nearly 100 carvings (some awards winners) are proudly displayed. The duck will have to wait until his lines are drawn before he's complete, but once he is, he'll look like the real thing.
Walnuts. Squirrels love em. Chef's master em. Kids know how to use em. And Mom's loath em. Walnuts have a strong smell when split open and one whiff sends me back to my childhood. I grew up with a big yard full of trees. I'd say a fourth were walnut. Without video games, cable TV, or smart phones to entertain us, we had to use something called imagination. Surprisingly, walnuts can be useful in hundreds of ways. They can be hand grenades that you throw at your brother in a brutal imaginary war. They could be baseballs that exploded when hit with a tree branch. They were used in the Great Walnut Derby to claim the fastest walnut. They were put in a bucket and whacked at with a tree branch until someone missed and split open their brother's head. They were planted on the road in strategic positions so the passing cars would hit them and replicate the muffled sound of a blown tire. They were placed as landmines on a bike trail and placed in the spokes to make your bike look cooler. For three seasons, walnuts entertained us. My mom on the other hand, was about ready to pull her hair out every time she did the laundry because walnut stains a near impossible to remove. Who knew a food could be so much fun.
Bonfires in Autumn. This is a scent that many can relate to. Sure a fire in the summer has a lot of meaning (I could write a whole post on that), but one from the Fall has a distinct smell and brings out the lavishing scents of the wood. For me, the moment my nose detects a fire, I instantly think of everything Fall. Hoodies, the changing colors, hot coco, the crisp air, leaves on the ground, faded blue jeans, football, etc. I reminisce on those nights, when the ghost of my breath revealed it's shade, the blaze's cackling laugh, the stars in full beam of the pitch black, and the stories from the lips of those whom I call friends. The chill in the air and warmth of the fire make for an equilibrium that Chemistry would be proud to claim as just. The grandest part of this whole picture is refusing to wash your hoodie and so every time you place it upon thy person, you catch the smell of bonfire and the memories flood back.
God gave us five senses. Don't let them go to waste. Experience them to the fullest. When your nose picks up a heavenly scent, don't leave your brain curious. Inhale deeply and make a memory.
