Do you ever come across tastes or smells or even sounds that send you down memory lane? I had such and experience yesterday.Seth and I were running errands and found ourselves at WINCO. I decided it was time to introduce him to the world of bulk. You can imagine the look on his face when he saw huge bins of candy as far as the eye can see. He wanted to get the sour gummy worms, and was in heaven when I let him scoop them into the bag.
Next to the sour gummy worms I noticed the bin with gummy peach rings and decided to get a few for myself. When we got in the car I busted them out and the second I put one in my mouth it was as if I'd been transported back in 1991 on Queensway Road in London. There was a sweet shop that we used to stop by now and then and my favorite were the gummy peach rings. I seriously could have closed my eyes and been back in the moment--at least until Seth started barking out orders at me.
I started to think about all the other things that make me have flashbacks. Here are a few...
- Cool Whip reminds me of when I was in Kindergarten and my mom spent the last 10 weeks of her pregnancy in the hospital. Ann and I stayed at home with my dad--Karen and Dan went to live with my Aunt and Uncle. It was a tragic time for a 5-year-old. BUT we had lots of nice Relief Society ladies bring in dinners and sometimes they brought dessert...something we did not have much of at our house because my dad is diabetic. So it was then I had my first experience with Cool Whip--which went with a lemon concoction that Janice Cassull made for those who know Janice.
- Unfortunately any Harvesty smells cause me to feel nauseated. I think this comes from spending 4 Thanksgivings with serious morning sickness...all my babies came in the Spring/Summer.
- On occasion I will find myself in a car that smells like a Silver Buick we had when I was little. It was my dad's work car and for some reason I loved the smell of the inside. When I smell that smell it reminds me of going with my dad to do peoples taxes (mostly old ladies who gave me bread to feed the ducks at their condominium complexes). We'd roll down the windows and listen to Helen Reddy--"I Am Woman" & "Ruby Red Dress" are still 2 of my favorite songs--much to Jared's dismay.
- When I was Seth's age and we (the whole country) were celebrating the Bi-Centennial there was some ice cream my mom would buy at Dan's Foods. It was red, white and blue with little white star candies in it. I LOVED it! Every now and then I'll taste an ice cream that tastes like my old friend and I can visualize my mom reaching into the freezer at Dan's to pull out a gallon!
- Lastly--the cheap Wal-Mart conditioner I just bought. It actually works quite well. The smell though smells like conditioner I have used at some point in a hotel because every time I use it I get this euphoric feeling like I'm on a vacation! I feel so relaxed, and then, I open the shower door and get hit by a wall of cold (both literally and figuratively). I am back in my messy bathroom with the realization that I am so NOT on vacation!
So how is it that ice cream can make me remember an experience with my mom 32 years ago and I can't remember if I hit the garage door when I get to the end of my street and have to circle back to check?
Last night Jared decided he was going to introduce me to the world of "Facebook". He set up an account for me and then we set out to find me some friends. We first went to check out who from my High School class were aboard. It was fun to see some recent pictures of people who I haven't seen since graduation. The following conversation took place...(names have been changed to protect the innocent)
Me: Oh, Michael Jingleheimerschmidt--I went out with him once--it was one of the worst dates I ever went on...
Jared (trying to be interested): Hmm.
About 3 minutes later...Jared is in a totally different group looking and I see something that catches my eye...
Me: Oh, there's a Mike Jingleheimerschmidt. That's weird, I went to school with a guy named Michael Jingleheimerschmidt...
For a moment I had no recollection of my comment a few minutes earlier...and then when I said it I realized that we were in the middle of some really bad Deja Vu!
7 comments:
I love how tastes, smells or sounds can trigger memories, especially things that you haven't thought about in a long time. I think one of my favorites is the taste of a warm dinner roll, just out of the oven, it always congers thoughts of my mom and grandma and multitudes of Sunday dinners growing up.
Becky,
I just read Vicki (Vreeken) Johnson's blog and she announced she is relocating to Boise! I told her she needs to hook up with you. Her blog address is derekvicki.blogspot.com if you'd like to be her relocation guide. And, along the reminiscing lines, I would say that every time my hair stylist using thinning scissors, I remember that you introduced me to them and I remember thinning our own hair in your bathroom. (Not quite a sight, sound, or smell, but a memory nonetheless!)
Hey Becky -
How about reminising.... this is Vicki (Vreeken) and we are relocating to Boise. We've been up there once... and done some house hunting... any suggestions? Our favorite area so far is the bridgetower subdivision. I like the size of lots, as well as it has ONE house we like. Anyway, email me... vicki_derek@hotmail.com, I'd love any suggestions... Hope to talk to you soon!
I just bought a cherry chocolate chip cake mix (to try, per a couple of blogs ago) and when I smell it baking, guess who will I will program be in my memory bank?
Oh I just love your descriptions of memories! Very true. So many things can just bring those memories back into our minds. It gets me thinking.....hhmmm,maybe I'll have to blog some too.
I just went to a Winco the other day, yes the bulk items there are something. Old Spice reminds me of my Dad, although I don't smell Old Spice on anybody BUT my dad anymore haha.
It is amazing how things can bring up memories from so long ago. I love the imagery. You paint the best pictures with your words! I wish I were as talented.
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