I'm not a person who has a deep attachment to most inanimate objects. I enjoy the fact that I have nice soft sheets on my bed, comfortable furniture to lounge around in, and warm house shoes for my feet. That's about the limit to my attachment. I'm grateful for everything that we have and I realize we have more than a lot of people and far more than we need. But, except for photos and a few family heirlooms, they are all easily replaced and wouldn't leave a hole in my heart if they were gone.At the same time, I cherish the fact that some things hold a deep tie to people I love. Like flowers. Don't most of us have a favorite flower? My dear maternal grandmother's favorite was yellow roses. I never see a yellow rose that I don't think of her, how much I love her and miss her, and what a profound impact she has always had on my life. Seeing one makes me smile with love for her.
Songs do that too. If I am lucky enough to hear How Great Thou Art in church, I immediately think of my father. I loved hearing his deep, smooth voice belt that out on Sundays when I was a small child. What a great memory.Foods can trigger memories as well. My oldest son has a soup he loves so much that we renamed it after him. He also is a big fan of lemon cake. Anytime I see a lemon cake, I think of him.
Isn't it wonderful that such simple, everyday items can evolve into triggers for us to think of people that mean so much to us? Now those are the material objects that really matter to me.
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111 comments:
That is so true. Most all of the roses have the same distinct smell...sorta kinda. But every time I smell a yellow rose, I'm tansported right back to the farm I grew up on in Rigby, Idaho. Very strange this memory thing in our brains.
How crazy that this post triggered all sorts of memories....like how MY favorite flower is pink roses and how my maternal grandfather's favorite flower was yellow roses (which I think about every time I hear that Toby Keith song, "Dreamwalkin") and as I was burning CDs to my computer yesterday, I was reminded of how 90's music reminds me of summer. (Like it was perpetually summer in the 90's??). The memory is a wacky thing!
Debbie, this year I lose almost everything I spent my life building and am giving a lot away after that. material things never mattered to me. I have had pleny (considered VERY comfortable) and I have had few. It's the people we have that we can lose! That is loss! Great post.
xxAmy
That would be PLENTY. sorry about the spelling ;)
It is fabulous that memories and emotions can be triggered by the senses in the way you have described.
Of course, every time I now see a lemon cake I'll think of you.
I'm a lot like you - I don't get attached to material possessions - in the long run, they just don't mean much of anything.
I love how things can remind you of people. Just my cup of tea reminds me of my Granddad. He drank more of it than anyone I know. It makes me smile and think of him each day.
Oh, i am just like you.Things remind me of memories.Looking at that pic of yellow roses makes me feel good and energetic:) Beautiful!
pink rose is cute, uplifting post.
Oh, I am SO like this! Smells trigger memories for me.
Can I just say YUM! I love lemon cake and yellow roses!!
Smells are big for me.
Jasmine reminds me of swimming at the lake in the summer time.
You are absolutely right!
And, I can't hear How Great Thou Art without crying.
Every time I make homemade chicken and noodles, I think of my mom. Sawdust makes me think of my dad. Rubbing alcohol makes me think of when my children were babies (putting it on the stump of the umbilical cord!).
Not to mention perfumes, colognes and after shaves... from my teen years to this day!! They all evoke so many memories!
What a great post! I totally agree that those triggers that you mentioned in your post are what mean the most.
For me, music triggers a lot of special memories for me.
Thank goodness for the five senses, especially taste and smell. Those are the ones that seem to be incredibly powerful triggers for me. Lovely post about lovely things to think about. - G
I am so suggestible. Must have lemon cake!
hello stranger, long time no see xx this was as always a great post, music triggers my memories, certain songs of days gone by. would love u over to my place, open invitation.
You said it quite clearly and I like this post. We have certain things that reach down there and squeeze the heart and tug on our senses and not only our own buttons get pushed, we take in the things that loved ones like too. My son likes pork chops, it was the first meal he learned to cook while he was in junior high, (I had my kids take turns cooking so they would learn to cook) and he still likes port chops! Certain smells bring about feelings and visions of past events. I for one am grateful I am still able to remember the connections. Some day I may have trouble remembering. Yikes!
Smells will do it for me. Give me a whiff of Camay soap and I am instantly back at my grandmother's house. And a slightly damp, moldy smell puts me at the lake house of my bestfriend's family.
So right you are. Smells do that for me too.
My grandmother LOVED Dove soap. Everytime I smell it, I think of her.
I like when some thing reminds me of somebody because it truly is the people that matter most.
Love this post! It reminded me of so many sights and sounds that trigger memories for me. Peonies for my loving grandmother. I miss her so much. Red roses for my mom...she is such a sweetheart. Iris for me...I just love their sculptural form and wonderful colors. Thanks Debbie
Hugs
SueAnn
I really liked this post. It is so true you may see something and it will bring some kind of thought to your mind. Thanks for this post..
Happy Monday.
For me it is Tulips. I am also very attached to my photographs. Everything else though I would be okay with losing.
I completley agree with and speaking from experience, nothing can take away your memories or your dreams!
Yes, yes, yes! I love you. Because Things only matter in relation to the people we love! Aren't you so clever?
Pink roses are my favorite, too! I can almost smell them....and taste that lemon cake. Now I'm hungry! :)
Yellow roses are also my favorite and it all harks back to my beloved Grandfather, his love of roses and that yellow roses were also his favorite. And music -boy, all kind of triggers there! I love Amazing Grace but the song that always, without fail, brings tears to my eyes is an old Swedish hymn, Children of the Heavenly Father. Also a favorite of my grandfathers, as a pre-schooler, he taught me the words to that song in Swedish -all four verses. I can only remember the first verse to it now, but this past fall, I got to teach that Swedish verse to my six-year-old autistic granddaughter so she could sing it with the children's choir at our church! (Our church's ethnic heritage is Swedish so things that incorporate old parish favorites go over quite well!) And then, there's "Little Red Riding Hood" by Sam the Sham and the Pharoahs, from back around 1965-66 era and that one ALWAYS triggers a lot different reaction in me of some really wild but fun memories.
Yes, that really is a wonderful thing! I'm sentimental too!
Music is a powerful trigger for me.
Wonderful post. So many things bring back wonderful memories for me and I treasure each and every one of them.
My best memories are from growing up in Europe and spending time in the kitchen with my grandma. Every time I cook her dishes I remember her and I can close my eyes and see her standing there. I remember the smell of her kitchen. Thanks for taking me down there again.
Hey woman!! I haven't visited in awhile. Good to catch up! :)
Smells trigger things for me too! I can even tell ya what I was wearing in those memories, as well. :)
Hope you are doing well.
I'm a tulip girl. Just love tulips...
thanks for such a sweet post.
Iris and sailboats :)
This is so lovely! It's true sometimes those inanimate objects can produce the most beautiful memories...
I agree. The first crisp fall day I think about football games in high school and college. Polo cologne reminds me of former boyfriends, and now my son's best friend....
Yes for sure..sights, sounds and smells definitely have an impact on our memories..and sometimes its enough to pull you out of a funk or bad mood too...isnt it so kool how it can transform you back to the time of origin...I always ponder how incredible that is....Thanks for this..!
Food and smells definitely trigger memories for me. Fresh flowers especially tulips always make me smile.
Calla Lily is clearly the coolest flower ever.
They say grace is in the little things. Exactly right.
I'm with you - not super attached to objects. But you are so right a flower, a song, a food, a smell - it can all trigger powerful memories and that is truly spectacular.
Thanks for this post!!!
Cheers to you,
Cameron
Conquer The Monkey
Yellow Roses are my favorite as well! What a beautiful post!
Jenni
I love that sights and smells can bring sweet memories. I don't get to smell it much any more, but Old Spice is my dad, every time.
Lemon cake is one of my favorites too! I even had a good friend bring it to me in the hospital when I had my son!
This is such a sweet post! I agree 100%! My grandmother knew the name of every flower and just about every bird! I had forgotten this fact. Thanks!
Have a wonderful week!
After watching two families I was close to lose everything in house fires (my college roommate in 1993 and then, six years later, a friend), I realized that everything (except possibly photos) can be replaced. The memories are there regardless.
My Grandpa sang How great thou art in chuch and I cry anytime I hear it. And songs remind me of a lot of different memories...great post.
My grandfather kept a huge rose garden. We could always tell he'd been by during the day when everyone was at work and school because he'd leave some roses in a Mason jar (the redneck vase of choice) on our kitchen table. I loved that.
I love that you post evoked so many memories and connections in your commentors. Music and smells are what bring memories for me. Honeysuckle always takes me back the the back door of the house where I grew up.
You're right. Those are the kind of material things I love too. I'm rather fond of fire and ice roses. I always think of my husband.
You are so right. I love those sweet memories that are triggered by special things.
Peons remind me of my grandmother. I even had them in my wedding bouquet because they made me feel like she was with me:-)
You said it. It is the things that remind of us of those we love that are the things we cherish.
I haven't been by in a while. I agree with you on smells....Some smells remind me of the shampoo my mom used when I was little or favorite childhood meals. :-) Stop by for a giveaway when you have a chance.
- Cougs
www.cougar-tales.blogspot.com
I feel the same, I can't eat pound cake without smelling the afternoon coffee at my grandmothers house!
Yes. Aquanet hairspray and impatiens remind me of my grandma who is in heaven. Thanks for this post...I could create a really long list for you, but I won't. :)
Isn't it crazy how certain items can trigger memories. I have things like this too.
Absolutely true. There are so many things that remind me of my dad .... a bag of Fritos is just one of them! Thanks for reminding us what's important.
Oh you're so right that it is the sights and smells and sounds that bring back the memories of what's important. I'm absolutely with you on that. I think I'll fall asleep thinking on these things tonight. Such a happy way to fall asleep.
And the older we get, the more memories that get triggered! Food is a big one for me, foods always remind me of people.
Debbie, I don't get attached to material objects too. But reading your post and aww those roses pulled on my emotions/memories.
Betty xx
Talk about triggering - My great-grandmother had the world's best rose buses, in my opinion. They were everywhere, surrounding her house, and she's always let me pick them to take home with me. And, her name was Rose. I can't help but think of her every single time I see one.
We think a lot alike Debbie-- Flowers, songs, even lemon cake, bring wonderful memories to the forefront for me. Thanks for reminding me :-)
Hope your week is going good.
jj
Lovely essay. I do the same when I see a painting I know my mom loves or see a book on my shelf that someone gave me. Or garnered a good discussion with a few others. Sometimes a certain smell or a sound that takes me back.
Enjoyed this. Thanks.
My Grandma's house always smelled like peppermints. And Charley Pride always reminds me of my beloved step dad.
Now my mom has a very unique smell from housing about 20dogs in and out of her house while smoking 3 packs a day. We call it the funk. You don't wear your coat in that house. EVER. The FUNK does not wash out. :-/
I found this post really moving because you of course made me start to think (like everyone else it seems) about all the things in my life that set of fond memories.
I'm blessed/cursed with a very acitive imagination so I really get shot back into memories.
Thanks for nudging me too do that this morning! Lovely post :)
Oh, this is so true! Grandma is chicken and waffles,Grandpa is some brand of cigar that I couldn't name for you but always recognize, Mom is pink tulips, Dad is Cajun music...I could go on...
It's the simple things in life that mean the most!
The smell of cigars always trigger memories of my grandmother. I used to sneak them for her, because her daughters didn't allow her to smoke.
Our senses are pretty amazing that way - shouln't take them for granted.
The smell of cigars always trigger memories of my grandmother. I used to sneak them for her, because her daughters didn't allow her to smoke.
Our senses are pretty amazing that way - shouln't take them for granted.
Oh, I love the simple things in life that trigger sweet memories.
LOVE your blog. It's my first time here via http://thepursuitofmommyness.com/ and her meme linky you were on. I just love meeting new bloggers. I'v added myself to your followers and will def. be back again. Please feel free to pop by my site some time
First time on your blog and totally loved it :)
Your post sent me on a nostalgic trip and ofcourse inspired me for a post of my own :)
Oh, I love this post, Debbie. I hang on to few things as well. As long as my family is with me, I can make my home wherever.
I find it fascinating how the mind works and what things it remembers. My memories revolve around, food, flowers, music, get-togethers, and certain smells.
Queen Bitty is a fan of herself, as well.
It is amazing how little things can trigger memories.
THOSE are the material things that OUGHT to matter. *grin*
So true! Something like this happened to me just the other day. I picked up a domino in a store and the way it felt in my fingers made me realise it was the same as my grandfather's old set. I was immediately transported back nearly 30 years. In a flash I could remember everything about playing dominoes with him. It was quite incredible.
Tulips do it for me!!! You should have seen the smile on my face last week when I spotted my first bunches of tulips at the grocery store. :)
And, I think of my Nanny when I try to replicate her pea soup. I've been making it a lot since Christmas. I'm lucky to have one of my daughters and my dad to be my guinea pigs. Banana loves all of my attempts, and my dad recently told me I'm getting CLOSE!!!
Thanks for visiting my Laura Kinsale interview!
I really love that pink rose photo. So sharp and saturated.
I agree smell can trigger the weirdest memories sometimes. I love it's unpredictability though.
Kate xx
I agree wholeheartedly.
And I loved how you walked me through the senses iin this post.
It was beautiful , really.
And I could , and may , write a post on this.
I'm behind in my gratitude journalling and this would be a perfect nudge.
And that rose photo is exquisite.
For me it is music. Music transports me back to old places in my life.
Thanks for visiting my blog.
My mothers favorite color is purple. She passed away 10 years ago but and to this day no body in the whole family wears it. Its just too haunting for any of us. We miss her too much.
Aren't memories wonderful, amazing things.
Malted milk balls are my trigger.
Never a truer word! Still (blush) I cherish what is mine. That's alright, so long as you APPRECEIATE it though, right??
Wink.
Roses are so pretty and fragrant too. Lemon cake? I make a mean one. Memories......they are precious whether it is an object, a song, a phrase that reminds us of loved ones.
What a great way to look at life and memories...
Peonies remind me of my wedding day.
Those are the only items that really matter to me. Rick is a nick nak kind of person, not me but there are a few things I just love like grandmothers pearls. Good memories :)
The smell of my grandparent's home does the same thing to me...all my happiest memories come flooding back when I walk in the door and inhale! :)
It makes me smile just thinking about the happiness simple things can bring into a persons life.
My mom sing that song all the time. :D
This is amazing! This is the 3rd post I read today discussing memories attached to objects. I have been spending a lot of time today down memory lane. Thank you!
Great post, and that cake made me drool. While living in a small town in Texas, we had a little church up the street whose bells tolled "How Great Thou Art". Priceless.
Oh wow...I totally know what you mean! Yes! smells, sights, sounds all sorts of things will trigger even the oldest and strangest memories...but I love that!
Thanks for participating in Connect MEme Monday...hope to see you back next Monday!
http://thepursuitofmommyness.com/
So true! And these memories are ours forever, no matter what happens to the material triggers...
Lovely post.
lovely post. for me its music which i associate with memories. i tend to associate a lot of songs to people, activities and my memories from the past.
I agree with you all, it is amazing a song,flower place even in the clouds we think of something we hold close.
People who take the time to find beauty in anything are happy and content..
Have a wonderful day. Thanks for dropping in for a visit.
Oh yes, so true, so true! When I saw your yellow roses pic...I thought of my mom. She loves them combined w/white daisys.
I often combine food, flowers, smells with memories of people. It's a great thing!
That was lovely. Lovely photos, and even lovlier sentiments.
When I think of MY grandmother, I think of....scrapple and oyster loaf.
Yep.
I hated both equally and she was mean as the day is long, so, there you go. :D
Glad you have fonder memories than I. ;)
Thank you for sharing those -- always nice stopping by to see you and I appreciate your comment love. :)
Peace and serenity,
~Jo
'The End Of The Rainbow: Life After bankruptcy'
Yes! Is it bad that circus peanuts remind me of my Grandma and are therefore sentimental?
Smells really trigger memories for me.
Debbie~My hub has over 150 rose bushes in our yard. I use to ask him every time he'd came home with 3-4 more bushes..."where are you puttin' that one?" He'd smile and reply..."Oh I'll find a spot for it" and he always has. When they bloom it's intoxicating.
A few years ago the seniors (from the assisted living residence) would stroll by on their daily walk. They started to take notice of a-l-l the roses and would ask if they could have one to take back to their apts. My hubby would gladly pick whichever ones they wanted. Now it's become a summer tradition. He's even collected vases from garage sales to put the roses in to transport in their walker baskets. It's a tradition we look forward to each summer.
Sweet wishes,
Sara
Hi. Happy Friday follow. I'm following you now too.
This post was so nice. Soft and simple.
I think you would be a great sub! I loved the padded wall picture. Perfection.
I love the feeling you get as that certain smell wafts to your nose and the memory floods your mind. Or when seeing a photo of an old boyfriend, the twinge of fond memories (or disgust, take your pick) tweak your heart.
Those are so true! I make a chicken pasta dinner that my son loves so much that he asked me how to make it and we named it Chicken Alexander... it always makes me think of him. I also think of my older son Nikolaus whenever I make Pineapple Unside-Down cake because that is his favorite and he wanted it for his birthday every year.
The smell of a burning fireplace makes me think of my paternal grandparents all the time because they had one in their little stone house they built.
Thanks for making me remember those wonderful things. :-)
This is a great post! My grandpa died two months ago and every few days I will see or smell something that reminds me of him. The same goes for other family members of course, too! It's neat :)
I love daisies...and sunflowers. They're so happy looking.
My aunt JoAnn loved yellow roses. She passed away in '93 and her funeral was full of them.
But the thing that pulls me into the past more quickly than anything is smells or music.
I can smell a cologne and immediately tell you what guy in my life wore it and all the dates we had, etc.
Or, I hear a song, and the same thing happens.
But lemon cake...yum. I love it too!
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