I just finished reading a post from another blogger, Michael Harling's 'Postcards from Across the Pond' that certainly brought back memories of my dad and his pipe. Dad was born in London in 1907 and immigrated to the US with his family for the first time when he was 11. They actually *crossed the pond* 3 times before deciding to stay here in the US in 1920.
I never knew my paternal grandparents as they both died when I was still a baby in the 1940's. So there's no way for me to know if my grandfather smoked cigars or pipes, but my dad did. And I love the smell of both (although I have to say that the smell of a pipe tops the smell of a cigar). But both are nostalgic for me and to this day (and I'm pushing the big 7-0) make me feel happy, safe, and loved.
Which brings me to the gist of this post, the mystery of memory. Apparently odors are big memory jarr-ers (is that even a word?) Anyway, you know what I mean. There must be an area of our brain that retains the memory of odors and connects them somehow to something (a time, a place, a person). I imagine this is being studied by someone in Neuroscience... at least I would hope so.
If you've never read Michael's posts, please check them out as they are humorous and extremely well written (not anything like my home-grown postings of ..a day in the life - aka 'Older but better'). In this particular one called "Getting in Touch with My Inner Geezer", Michael mentions that he is a cigar smoker that has recently taken up the pipe for (if I read it correctly) *aesthetic* reasons - meaning he likes the way it looks.
I have to agree with him. IMO a pipe looks dignified.... a cigar not so much... whereas a cigarette makes one look *hard* (hope this doesn't offend anyone, but IMO it just does). And I love the pictures of the particular pipe smokers he included in his article. Here are 2 of the 4 taken from his website.
BTW, Michael has also written several books which are on my reading list for 2015. If his books are anything like his posts, I know I will enjoy them.
Hi Rian, I love the smell of pipe tobacco as well, my maternal grandfather smoked one as did my father. You never see them these days and i don't really know why, maybe they take too much work in this fast paced world.
ReplyDeleteI went over and read Michael's post, a good read.
Diana
No, you don't see them much these days... and I wonder why also.
DeleteMy dad was a pipe smoker...after he was ordered by his doctor to give up the Camel cigarettes he used to smoke. Even so, my biggest memory of pipe smoking is his road rage: "G--Dxxx pipe smokers--worse than women drivers!"
ReplyDeleteHe was not a patient man.
Really? Pipe smokers and road rage.... that's one I hadn't heard.
DeleteThanks so much for the mention, Rian! Glad to know you enjoy my blog (and you, too, Doodles); it's nice to discover I'm not always writing into a vacuum. ;)
ReplyDelete"... writing into a vacuum" - interesting choice of words. Years ago when I wrote (with pen in hand) into my journals (before online journaling), I didn't think much about anyone enjoying my words. Just wrote them to get them out of my head I suppose. But blogging is different, its more like sharing a bit of your life with others... (people you will probably never meet)... kind of a cosmic communication.
DeleteMy dad smoked cigars. Now those are really noxious, and fortunately for me I'm not forced to smell them. I read a book about how olfactory memories are located in the brain where, once triggered, they bring back strong recollections. It's even happened to me once or twice. :-)
ReplyDeleteCigars don't bother me either... all good memories. Actually the smell of a pipe or cigar jars a memory of peaceful Sundays with my dad smoking and reading the paper in the living room while my mom cooked Sunday dinner - (sounds like a scenario from the 50's and 60's - maybe Father Knows Best?). But again, that's when it was.
DeleteMy mother was the smoker (of cigarettes), my dad did not smoke - except second hand. Smells I associate with the two of them are fresh baked bread out of the oven...mom baked every Monday and the smell of fresh cut grass brings back memories of dad.
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting how easily our minds take us back to simpler times just because of a familiar smell.
Have a great week!
.."fresh baked bread and fresh cut grass...." great olfactory memories!
DeleteHi Rian,
ReplyDeleteYou asked about the rail trail. It runs through a section of the country which used to have a railway line and now doesn't. The tracks have been lifted and where they were has been turned into a walking or cycling track. We may be rather ambitious in trying to walk it in 3 days, it will probably take longer, but it's a challenge. It's a slight uphill gradient to about the halfway point and then slightly downhill. It runs for about 150 kms through old gold mining country. There are places to stay on the way but we will take a campervan with us. I've been wanting to do this for several years, before I get too old!
Diana
My daughter and I talked about doing "the walk across England" at one time. Takes about 12 days I believe. At the time my grand daughter was too young to go with us. Now that she's 13, she would probably love it... but now I wonder if I could do it. I think I could.
DeleteI hope you do the rail trail... and take pics to share with us!