Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Memory Triggers

We have hollyhocks blooming in our backyard. They always remind me of my dad's parents who lived in So. Utah in a company house by the railroad tracks. In their yard, there were some beautiful hollyhocks that grew ever year. My dad took several photos of me by these flowers. When I see hollyhocks anywhere I think of him and our life in Milford.

It’s interesting how different sights or smells can trigger memories. The smell of a gardenia reminds me of my father’s funeral and all the flowers with their lovely fragrances. Although I can’t remember anything about his funeral only being 5 years old, I do remember the smell of gardenias. When I got married, my wedding bouquet had a gardenia in the middle that came out and could be a corsage but instead of making me happy, it made me feel nostalgic.

What smells or sounds or sights remind you of other nostalgic times in your life?