When I was in 2nd grade I took an empty bottle to school in my pocket. I opened it in the lunch line and then closed it quickly, hoping to capture the delicious smells of school lunch! I was disappointed in the outcome but I remember the look on the lunch ladies’ faces when I told them why I had the bottle. I interpreted their reactions as both laughing at me and touched that their food meant so much to me!
Hi Spencer! Welcome to understanding Marcel Proust and his “Memories of Lost Time”. Triggered by the aroma and taste of a Madeline cookie dipped in a cup of tea, memories of his childhood came flooding back. I tried to follow the purely print storyline and finally gave up the zig-zag track, the numerous names. Then I found a copy of the illustrated novel and did much better. A classic, I guess, at least well-known in French literature. Aurevoir..
Such wonderful writing and thinking here, thank you. My car is a 2008 Toyota Highlander and has only recently starting smelling "old," or at least how my parents' cars smelled when they drove them nearly into the ground. Cars are better now and mine still drives great, but the smell brought me back!
Enjoyed your writing again. The painter's jumpsuits make me laugh. Thanks! The smell sense memory is so interesting and powerful. Someone else's strong Cologne is not a favorite! Yesterday, I smelled (or smelt..) Lilacs like never before and it brought me back to my parent's yard and childhood. I've been a Rodney Crowell fan for years, and that must have been fun. Zach Hickman is amazing and I see him perform locally at Club Passim. He did this great thing during the Pandemic here. He walked around this town playing a Sousaphone, to entertain residents stuck inside. Good Luck with your festivals and thanks again for writing.
I'm stuck on your twelve year old self noticing the shift/loss of grooves. That's incredibly self-aware, and it sounds like the adults around you were the supportive and nurturing type.
Also, a festival for agriculture??! I am so excited to hear this exists. I don't know if this is the year, but it sounds right up my alley when my kids are a little older. I love that this festival has a purpose. Nice work! How do you pick the lineup?
Well, yes, Proust. But also Seinfeld when Jerry’s car comes back from being maintained and it smells so bad he ultimately has to get rid of it. It’s hilarious.
Experts say that the sense of smell has the greatest signature in our memory. Funny how the brain works. I personally think that some people are more sensitive to this connection.
I find that smells can start a trail of memory as easy as light, song, sound, taste and touch, often good, sometimes not. That said I am more than sympathetic with the car cologne experience. I have evolved an allergy to almost all volatile compounds that manifests in rashes, sneezing and - at worst - trouble concentrating. In the case of the loner car I would be suffering from "auto intoxication".
When I’m really depressed I stop listening to music…it’s very strange, because like most people I love music! But when I’m down, music leaves, but I also find music to be a great antidepressant….I know, I know, it doesn’t really make sense, but it is the way it is for me.
When I was in 2nd grade I took an empty bottle to school in my pocket. I opened it in the lunch line and then closed it quickly, hoping to capture the delicious smells of school lunch! I was disappointed in the outcome but I remember the look on the lunch ladies’ faces when I told them why I had the bottle. I interpreted their reactions as both laughing at me and touched that their food meant so much to me!
"smellularly"
Nice
Our new band….”The Condoms”
I love your writing. Thank you for having us.
So great to hear from Spencer, you write so amazingly well.
I think our olfactory sense is
Most enduring but hope your personal one is back.
Certain scents are attached to some of my best memories
Hi Spencer! Welcome to understanding Marcel Proust and his “Memories of Lost Time”. Triggered by the aroma and taste of a Madeline cookie dipped in a cup of tea, memories of his childhood came flooding back. I tried to follow the purely print storyline and finally gave up the zig-zag track, the numerous names. Then I found a copy of the illustrated novel and did much better. A classic, I guess, at least well-known in French literature. Aurevoir..
Such wonderful writing and thinking here, thank you. My car is a 2008 Toyota Highlander and has only recently starting smelling "old," or at least how my parents' cars smelled when they drove them nearly into the ground. Cars are better now and mine still drives great, but the smell brought me back!
Enjoyed your writing again. The painter's jumpsuits make me laugh. Thanks! The smell sense memory is so interesting and powerful. Someone else's strong Cologne is not a favorite! Yesterday, I smelled (or smelt..) Lilacs like never before and it brought me back to my parent's yard and childhood. I've been a Rodney Crowell fan for years, and that must have been fun. Zach Hickman is amazing and I see him perform locally at Club Passim. He did this great thing during the Pandemic here. He walked around this town playing a Sousaphone, to entertain residents stuck inside. Good Luck with your festivals and thanks again for writing.
A fascinating discussion, on a smellular level.
smellularly- great word
I'm stuck on your twelve year old self noticing the shift/loss of grooves. That's incredibly self-aware, and it sounds like the adults around you were the supportive and nurturing type.
Also, a festival for agriculture??! I am so excited to hear this exists. I don't know if this is the year, but it sounds right up my alley when my kids are a little older. I love that this festival has a purpose. Nice work! How do you pick the lineup?
Take good care!
Jessie
Well, yes, Proust. But also Seinfeld when Jerry’s car comes back from being maintained and it smells so bad he ultimately has to get rid of it. It’s hilarious.
Experts say that the sense of smell has the greatest signature in our memory. Funny how the brain works. I personally think that some people are more sensitive to this connection.
As always, wonderfully written Substack.
‘we remember our people - that will be fallen’ I think about this all the time.
re: Crowell, I have been revisiting Emmylou recently and he’s so intertwined with her sound to me. I’m excited to see what he’s been working on!
I find that smells can start a trail of memory as easy as light, song, sound, taste and touch, often good, sometimes not. That said I am more than sympathetic with the car cologne experience. I have evolved an allergy to almost all volatile compounds that manifests in rashes, sneezing and - at worst - trouble concentrating. In the case of the loner car I would be suffering from "auto intoxication".
When I’m really depressed I stop listening to music…it’s very strange, because like most people I love music! But when I’m down, music leaves, but I also find music to be a great antidepressant….I know, I know, it doesn’t really make sense, but it is the way it is for me.