The Memory of Scent
The house smells so wonderful, with the grand fir waiting for its new tree stand, sitting in a bucket off in on corner.
My penchant for Scrooge-like feelings during the holiday season has slowly been replaced by warm memories of my children’s joy for the season. For young boys, yes, Christmas is a lot about presents. If you are a good parent, if you could overcome the bombastic rampant commercialism, there is an underlying simplicity about the season that can pull at the heart like no other time.
This morning Thing Two came in while I was getting dressed, wanting to know if we could go get Thing One’s Christmas present tonight. How cute is that? I’ll tell you how cute it is, it is a bit of the ultra-cuteness.
Yes there are the presents. But then there is the smell of the tree. The gingerbread house. The decorating. The Christmas cookies. The story of Christmas. Grandpa and Nanna. Daddy’s Christmas Day roast. Santa. The music. The warm fireplace and the happy dog.
Long after those presents are gone, the memories of our close family during this time will linger on. One day my sons will be walking in one of the great national forests around here, and after the morning rain, smell the fresh scent of grand firs. And it will smell like Christmas.
And that will be magical, always magical, even in the dead of summer, it will be Christmas magic.
This was lovely, Anthony ; ) And much needed. I’m struggling with a San Diego Christmas this year.
December 12, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Thank you.
December 12, 2008 at 1:56 pm
Very nice sentiment.
On a writing-related note, “smell” is something most writers overlook. But, as you have just pointed out, it can oftentimes be a more powerful image builder than visuals alone.
I started both FIFTHWIND and MAGUS with a first sentence that refers to a scent. I’ll probably keep the trend and do it with the other three books as well. Something of a little “signature” style.
December 12, 2008 at 2:47 pm