Deep breath.

I am fascinated by the memories that are conjured up with particular scents.

I thought about this earlier this week when I walked into Office Max, and took a deep whiff (as I always do, this smell is intoxicating to me. Wierd?) and had the memory of my father's print shop, bulging with paper, paper, paper...Summers working there with him and my mom, collating, stitching...more collating.

I thought of more similar experiences that I've had with aromas, scents, smells, etc....

Pumpkin candles--my sister's house --specifically, my junior year at BYU, when I would come to her safe haven and escape my singles ward world for a few hours, play with her girls, do their hair, help them with homework, do her dishes, drink in the feel of family....

Saran Wrap--the NICU. I think it's because of all the sterile equipment, etc. I'm not sure. The smell reminds me of our preemie Trevor (smallest weight was 3' 13") and those very long 6 weeks that he stayed there. Ventilator, blood transfusion, me pumping, brain ultrasounds, feeding tube, apnea, not learning how to eat until the day before we took him home... It was emotionally, physically, and spiritually exhausting and yet, I still have warm feelings when I think of those quiet moments of holding him and singing to him and trying to make sure he could smell my skin and be close as often as possible...And now look at him! Blessings.

Packaged apple cider--my dad's office when I was a kid, they had a stash of this stuff.

B&B Works Dancing Waters--9th grade roommate, Mary. Yes, 9th grade roommate. I lived with a family from church for most of that year while my dad was commuting for work. This new B&B scent hints to me of Mary's scent of choice, Jessica McClintock. Images of late night chats, laughing-so-hard-we-couldn't-breath, the ballet posters on her walls, 80's remix tapes...

Skin Perfume --my mom. A few weeks ago I sat down for choir practice and I said, "Ooh, I smell my mom....", closing my eyes, with repeated sniffs. I asked the sister next to me what she was wearing and, sure enough, it was mom's perfume. It's soft and warm and incredibly unoffensive to the senses--like my mom ;) My mom has always smelled good. She used to wear Heaven Scent, until it was discontinued...I think our entire family tried to track that stuff down for her because, well, I couldn't imagine her smelling like anything else...but this stuff is a close second.

Tresemme' hairspray--my sis...and all 7 of her daughters, actually. They all use it. Every bathroom in their house smells like it...

Ulta shower gel--my first miscarriage. I don't even remember the specific scent. I threw it away...Out of the kindness of her heart, a friend bought me this after I had come back from the hospital. She wanted me to feel pampered. I lathered with it for the first week or so, and then after that, each time I opened the bottle, fresh memories of pain and emptiness resurfaced so I chucked it.

Popcorn--the halls of my elementary school. The kindergarteners would have popcorn for their snack and the scent would waft down the halls...

Gerber Oatmeal Baby Wash--One-year-old Paige. There are some imitations out there, but this is discontinued. This is the stuff I used for Paige when she was in the just learning to walk, newly formed curls, binky stage. Oh, I miss that little baby girl.

Mary Kay Hydrating Lotion--nausea, nausea, nausea...My othermother (foyoinfo: To me, the terms "stepmom" or "stepdad" have neg. connotations, so for my purposes it's "my othermother" and "my father". Make sense?) gave this to me during my the very first trimester of my last pregnancy. Now, I can't touch the stuff. Too bad too, 'cause it's nice.

Cinnamon Plug-ins--our first home. The model of this home had a cinnamon air freshener somewhere--oh, I think it was one of those that sprays puffs of scent every once in awhile. Anyway, I frequented that model home often, picturing my furniture there, measuring walls, matching paint colors...


I'll add more as it comes to me.