These posts were culled from the archives of the original Natblog, which were written around the Spring of '08 and never made for prime time. So a very (very) few readers of this blog may actually remember it. The good news is there are only the two of them– so I hope to spare you from too much repetition. Frankly, these are the only two I still feel strongly about to share. So with out further ado– here they are in their original form:
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The Olfactory Zone
Of all the senses–that of smell fascinates me most. Not only do I get transported somewhere in the distant past when I encounter a specific scent...but if I think of a specific person or place, my imagination can stir up a myriad of scents filed in some out of the way corner of my memory bank. One such person would be my grand mother– in her little brick house in Boro Park, Brooklyn. I can remember every cracked mortar joint in the staircase leading up to her front door. As I write this now, I can imagine opening the white aluminum screen door, with the decorative sillouhette of a horse and buggy applied to the front of it (I still don't know what that was about) and being met with a colorful combination of scents–and they run the gamut–in no particular order; basil, garlic, and pork sausage, TABU Eau de Cologne, honeysuckle, Juicy Fruit Gum, boiling macaroni water, almost too ripe tomatoes, Scent "O" Pine all purpose cleaner, Cashmere Bouquet beauty soap (they couldn't possibly still make that?) and plain white Mitzvah candles (those in the little glass jars– only available by the case at the local super market which catered to the growing Jewish community) which burned to keep perpetual vigil at the shrine to my departed grandfather. A wonderful irony in that we grew up very catholic and very Italian. Sure to be a topic of future posts.
So- these are a few and some of the strongest memories in my olfactory psyche. Perhaps you can search your own and share what scents trigger your memories.
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Zorba and a Smile
It's been pretty busy lately, as you can see by the date of the last post. I thought I'd fit in this one thing. Over a glass (or two...) of Ouzo the other night, I found myself in a Mediterranean frame of mind. I had the sudden urge for octopus and lemons and roasted lamb...and another glass of Ouzo. With my family's roots in Calabria– the southern most point of Italy, where the ancient Greeks once settled– I seem to have a genetic pre-disposition for things Hellenic. Have I mentioned I really like Ouzo? So, as I thought of these things, I smiled to myself. I almost felt like dancing. Well that's not true-but I did think of my friend Zorba. This is one instance where you should read the book AND see the movie. So which ever you decide to do– get yourself a bottle of Ouzo and smile.
Opa!
