Thursday, October 28, 2010

Nostalgia: Scents from childhood

@ mirandablue
Recently, I stayed at a friend's ancestral home in Laguna.  The house has been empty for quite a while as most of the family members are living abroad, and those who are in Manila are too busy to make the trip.  A caretaker does the cleaning and the upkeep of the house.  The house, with its echoes, reminded me of my grandmother's house in Negros.  

I stayed in the guest room.  Originally, this was the room of my friend's aunt--a single woman who died in this room from old age.  My friend was probably expecting me get spooked--he didn't realize how I love a little bit of mystery and spookiness.  But I wasn't able to sleep right away on the first night--I kept thinking about an old, frail lady dying on the same bed I was lying on (although the bed doesn't look that old!:p).  And with morbid fascination, I started to conjure images of my own death.

Instead of counting sheep, I decided to explore the room.  This beautiful antique armoire caught my fancy.  The carvings are fine and delicate--a family heirloom, I suppose.  When I opened it, the room was flooded with the scent of napthalene (or moth) balls---the scent from childhood (as my friend would later say, the odor of coffin lining :P).  As we all know, smell evokes memory.  The scent of moth balls comforted me somehow---it triggered memories of crisp blankets and pillow cases, fluffy towels and lacy curtains, of my grandmother's room with her not-so-hidden treasures of chocolates, fancy dresses and coins.

I was still dreaming the next morning when I was called for breakfast.


What scents trigger your childhood memories?



10 comments:

Chubskulit Rose said...

Wahhhhh nanindig balahibo ko dito sa entry mo sis hahahaha. I remember moth ball scent, gamit din namin yan noon. I don't think I will be able to sleep there if I were you wahhhh

☆Mama Ko☆ said...

I love their closet, ours was look different. hindi ka na yata makabili ng ganito ngayo. iba na ang klase at design ng mga closet.

Photo Cache said...

that is really a heirloom piece. they don't make furnitures like this anymore.

maryt/theteach said...

What a beautiful bedroom reflected in the mirrors of a marvelous piece of furniture, Luna! :)

Clarissa said...

Oh my!Minsan nalang ang merong ganyang antique na closet sa atin ngayon.Marvelous furniture!

I smell amoy araw on my childhood days lol!

Thanks for dropping by at my Nostalgia entry,LM!

Ingat palagi^_^

namaki said...

nice post about memories and scents ... this is so true especially when we grow old !

Unknown said...

How lovely, fit for a princess. Fragrances do bring a flood of memories, so do songs.

Thanks for your lovely comment. I do try to at least get to the window mid day to drink in the sights of outdoors. It helps me remember that though I work for a boss on earth, I have a greater one above. :-)

Sidney said...

A perfect Halloween post !
I hope the house was not haunted by evil spirits !

http://graceolsson.com/blog said...

now...i cry after your post
I will come back later
nice weekend
http://graceolsson.com/blog/2010/10/zanzibar-think-twice/

Lina Gustina said...

I'm not as brave as you...
Yes, the carvings are beautiful!
I guess I have no memorable scents :(

Thanks for dropping by, sorry for my late visit