The Past

Do you remember the smell of fresh perking coffee? Oh, I know, you say, Coffee made today still has that fresh smell. But, I believe that smell along with the perking sound gave us memories that are just not quite the same with today's new pots. Maybe that is why the old fashioned style of Coffee Pots, even the Percolator have been returning to stores to be sold? Perhaps they want to sell Memories just as much as they do Coffee? Now I am not saying that things tasted or smelled better back in the past, but the Memories sure make us think so, don't they? Remember the Maxwell Coffee ads? How about the one at Christmas time for Folgers? AAAh, Good to the last Drop! Coming home again, it gets no better!

How about the smell of Bacon frying? Yummy. Even if you don't eat the bacon, I bet you can remember that smell! Breakfast time, the best part of the day? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But one thing I remember about those days is that people would take the time to sit and enjoy that feast of food before they went about their day. They did not rush off, coffee mug in hand, spilling a bit on the way. Yes, they did indeed work hard. They labored and worked and labored and worked some more. Now I am not saying that people don't work as hard now as they did then. In fact, some work longer hours for less pay than those hard working people did back on the farm when I was a child. (We won't even mention how long ago that has been, thank you very much!)

What about the thrill in the Fall when the leaves start turning and people begin to burn leaves. Ah, what a memory that revives. That smell of crisp leaves as they crackle and burn. Most places won't even let us burn leaves anymore! Not environmentally safe! Still the memory of that smell returns to our brains often this time of the Seasons. Most of us can remember the smell of those wet, damp leaves after a rainstorm too. How about the fun of jumping into them and hiding from one another. Another past lovely Memory, though I would not enjoy doing so now a days!

I remember the smell of cakes baking.  the whir of frosting being whipped. Oh what a lovely memory that entails. You see, for a while my Mom baked and sold cakes from her home. I don't remember if she made much money, but I do remember that smell and getting to lick out those pans and to eat the non used sections she would trim off before the frosting began. No cake has ever tasted as good as that memory lingers. She took lessons from a friend of hers in Iowa. We used to go visit there and I could not believe the smell of that house. It was like Heaven to smell. Then to get to taste what she was making too? Wonderful. True, I suppose that might have contributed to my weight gain, but my brothers ate their fair share as well and neither is fat.

How about the smell of marsh mellows melting around a tree branch sharpened to a nasty point? Nothing tasted as good at those Rendezvous Camps as those gooey melted treats smashed up against the chocolate piece and enveloped by that graham cracker crust. Marsh mellows smell really good up close. That burned on crust, burned though it might smell, was just part of it all.

I can remember how the Cow barn smelled too. Or the smell of fresh milk as it is being processed. There were smells in that barn I would rather forget, but it was all a part of the experience. My brother had to milk the cows when my Dad was away earning some extra money. He would squirt milk in the Kittens mouths too. I would help to lock the stansions on the cows and let them out when milked. My brothers and I used to take turns riding on Dad's milk route when he would take our just milked milk to the Creamery in town. We always got to have a bottle of chocolate milk to go with cheese slice sandwiches Mom would make for us for lunch. That smell returns to this day whenever I open a block of cheese. I did not know back then how involved my family had been in establishing and overseeing the local Creamery business. That is a story for another time.

What other smells can you think of that stir up fond memories? Tell me what takes you back. I look forward to hearing. I will add to this list if and when I think of more smells. Have a good weekend and week! From Kate